It's not only the medicines that come free in the Swasthya Mela. Pathological tests too are conducted free. It's a mini health bonanza said sources. Swasthya Mela is catching up with the local populace.
Visitors to Swasthya Melas are going for their BP (blood pressure) check. It's more with visitors who are 45 and plus. Swasthya Melas have adequate medicines for the management of the BP.
This correspondent met one Santoshi Devi, 60, at Adhoura Swasthya Mela who knew far more about the BP than many of her age group urban women.
"Ghareloo tension say BP barh ja ee la. Ka kareen. Ee Ghar k up jal bimari ba (Family tension triggers high BP. Can't do anything. This disease is born in the family," said Santoshi.
Civil surgeon Dr Anil Kumar said, "People are conscious of their BP. It will help them in their anger management."
Even the rural populace is conscious of the lifestyle disease. BP is one such. Diabetes another. Low back pain is the result of long sitting.
A quack charges 20 to 30 rupees for a BP check. It's coming free in the Swasthya Melas is proving a boon for many poor people.
At the Nawa Bazar Swasthya Mela the deputy development commissioner Md Shabbir Ahmad got his blood sugar level tested.
Quoting Ahmad, civil surgeon Dr Anil Kumar said "The DDC gave his prick of blood for random blood sugar level test. He wanted to know as to whether tests being done in the Swasthya Melas are of any quality or not."
"The reading of the random blood sugar level test matched with the reading that the DDC had for the day found out by himself at his Daltonganj official residence" added the civil surgeon.
"We are motivating girls to get their haemoglobin test but they are shy to it. It will help us to give them iron supplements" reminded Dr Anil.
Aayushman Cards are also being made out in the Swasthya Mela. Visitors come with their Aadhaar card. The Ayushman Mitr gets far busier in Swasthya Mela than any other day.