Bad roads, limited health infrastructure and the sheer absence of ambulatory services, make even basic health delivery an uphill task for County authorities in Maryland. That being the case, accessing specialized or secondary health care services is simply way beyond the reach of ordinary people in the region.

For a change, though, doctors from the PakBatt Level II Hospital in Harper deployed in early September to take specialized health services to the very doorsteps of residents in Pleebo.

More than 600 patients benefited from the medical outreach when the Pakistani medics pitched camp at Pleebo City Hall to provide free consultations and treatment.

Meticulously planned, the initiative couldn’t have been more successful. A week in advance a preparatory team comprising of an eye specialist (Maj Omar), a surgeon (Maj Yousuf) and an anesthetist (Maj Rashid) visited Pleebo City and made the necessary arrangements with local authorities.

Besides the City Corporation, the local media, including a Community Radio, also plugged into the process to spread word about the free medical camp.

Most of the patients received treatment at the camp, but patients requiring further investigation were advised to come over to the PakBatt Level 2 Hospital.

Head of the UN Field Office in Maryland County Corinna Vigier also visited the medical camp and appreciated the efforts of the Pakistani medics, noting that the humanitarian gesture bodes well for the image of UNMIL in the local community.