Gadchiroli doctors complete a decade of service at tribal village

NAGPUR: Binagunda is at the tip of Gadchiroli district, some 20 km from Bhamragarh located in a dense forest of Central India. Reaching this village involves at least a 4km trek amid the forest and the threat of Naxalites is always there.
But doctors from Gadchiroli, mainly private practitioners in various specialties, take this trek every year as a mission. On May 1, which is celebrated as Maharashtra Din, a team of doctors visit Binagunda, organize a full-fledged health check-up camp, treat tribal patients, distribute medicines, and spectacles, and offer them with sumptuous food which they hardly get to eat in their village.
This year, a team of doctors visited Binagunda after two years of Covid-induced gap.“It’s like homecoming for us. We were missing this service for the last two years,” said Dr Anant Kumbhare, a radiologist.
It was Dr Shivnath Kumbhare, the first MBBS doctor from Gadchiroli, who inspired his son Dr Anant and his friends to visit this far-flung village at least once a year and offer services to the needy for free. Dr Anant and his friends from Gadchiroli started this initiative in 2012.

“It may sound unreal for people in urban areas, but tribals of Binagunda still see their village priest on falling ill. Living in fear due to Naxalites, the villagers are still cut off from the mainstream. We keep visiting this village regularly. The May Day camp has become our main event now. Many doctors have joined in,” said Dr Anant.
Doctors reached the village with medicines, surgical tools, glasses and eye check-up tools. General check-ups, several blood tests and eye check-ups were done and medicines distributed. Doctors also gave reference letters to serious patients and asked them to visit Gadchiroli.
Cancer surgeon Dr Yashwant Durge, general surgeon Dr Nikesh Khobragade, pediatrician Mukesh Atyalgade, dentist Dr Sai Khare, radiologist Dr Nilkanth Masram, Dr Shaym Sardar, ophthalmologist Dr Kalkotwar, pharmacists Harish Dandekar, Dilip Biswas, pathologists Dr Pramod Palshikar and Dr Anil Tikde, and a management team of Nikhil Burande, Diwakar Saltewar, Chetan Kalbande, Akshay Dhakate, and Manish Guddewar reached Binagunda with Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Mitra Homdev Koshmishale, Shrikant Kosre and Mukesh Dhawle.
“We started on April 30 to reach Bhamragadh. From there, we started early in the morning for Binagunda. After an almost 15km drive, we walked through forests, crossed three temporary bridges and reached this place,” said Dr Khobragade.
Five patients of malaria were detected at the camp. Regular blood tests revealed that the haemoglobin count in many pregnant women was 7 (it must be at least 11). “It’s unbelievable that these women deliver babies at this HB level. All we can do is to provide them whatever medicines and nutritious food we can,” said Dr Khare.
The management team also cooked food at the venue and all visitors were served a proper meal.
Besides ensuring availability of these doctors, Gadchiroli’s civil surgeon Dr Anil Rude also provided all the stock of necessary medicines. “We are happy that our initiative is now getting government back-up. Hopefully, more doctors will join in next year. Our aim is to convince these villagers about good health practices. Quality medical facilities should reach the last village in Maharashtra,” said Dr Kumbhare.