Northeast India: Press Club Initiates For Better Health For Scribes
Guwahati Press Club, a pioneer pressmen’s organization in northeast India continues its endeavor for better health for working journalists. The local press club, with over 300 active members representing various news papers, news agencies and news channels has tied up with some Guwahati based private hospitals for regular screening of the health status of its members.
Moreover, the hospital managements extend a cheaper access to various health care facilities
for the scribes based in the city. In addition to it, the GNRC Hospitals run a media fellowship for the benefit of local journalists.
The latest health check-up camp, organized in the press club premises on February 2, 2013 by the down town hospital as a mark on their silver jubilee year, was attended by around 150 media persons. Though most of the scribes had shown satisfactory outcomes, some of them were diagnosed with gastro related complains, high blood pressure & sugar and different cardiac ailments.
Paying a brief visit to the press club, Dr NN Dutta, CMD of down town hospital appreciated the initiative and urged the media persons to follow guidelines for better health. Mayurakshi Dutta, Executive Director of down town hospital, who accompanied Dr Dutta emphasized on regular health check-up camps for the media persons as they have to lead a hectic and stressful life style always.
Attending doctors including Dr. Rupam Das (Diabetology), Dr. Swapnav Borthakur ( Medicine), Dr. Debraj Saikia (Cardiology), Dr. Bhaskar Hazarika ( Family Medicine), Dr. Pramod Prabhakar ( ENT), Dr. Komal Gupta (Gynacology), Dr. Niti Rani Verma (ENT) and dietician Tina Baby Baruah advised the media persons on various health related issues.
Earlier in a health check-up camp, held on December 28, 2012 at GNRC Dispur hospital, it was found that the attending media persons were mostly diagnosed with acidity, generalized weakness and irregular bowels. Some of them were also advised for further course of treatments.
Dr Aparajita Barman and Dr Amit Dolley conducted the camp where the journalists were exposed to ECG, blood sugar check, blood pressure & weight check-up. Intense consultations with the doctors were also provided in the camp. Dr NC Bora, CMD of GNRC Hospitals has meanwhile announced the next round of medical journalism fellowship, which would extend financial supports for the working journalists.
Last year witnessed a unique health check-up for women journalists in the press club. Organized by Nemcare Hospital on March 4, 2012, the check-up camp was attended by nearly 50 female journalists, where only female doctors were engaged. The Nemcare Hospital chief Dr Hitesh Barua also paid a courtesy visit during the check-up camp, which was organized on the eve of International Women’s Day (March 8).
