JAMNAGAR: At a time when Gujarat’s government is pushing to address healthcare access gaps through its Mukhyamantri Amrutum (MA) Yojana and the state-wide Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) scheme, community-led efforts are amplifying that mission at the grassroots level. The Dawoodi Bohra community successfully conducted a five-day free medical camp at Saifee Maternity & Multispeciality Hospital in Kadiawad, bringing specialist medical care directly to over 1500 patients.
The camp was inaugurated by Shahzada Husain Burhanuddin, son of His Holiness Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin on 1st May, who met with medical teams and interacted with patients on the opening day. His presence underscored the community’s long-standing commitment to accessible healthcare.
Organised by the community’s Health and Wellbeing department in partnership with Project Rise and Saifee Maternity & Multispeciality Hospital, the camp was held from the 1st to the 5th May. It covered a range of high-need disciplines including cardiac care, neurology, gynaecology, ENT, dental care, ophthalmology, and general medicine. A team of multi-specialist doctors led by doctors from the community’s Saifee Hospital in Mumbai, supported by trained community volunteers and around 50 medical students, conducted screenings, early diagnoses, and consultations.
“Healthcare should never be a privilege determined by geography or income,” said Huzaifa Kapadia, Associate Director of the community’s Health and Wellbeing Department. “This camp was part of our broader commitment to proactive, preventive care, and we hope that every person who walked through these doors left not just with a consultation, but with the confidence to take charge of their own health,” he added.
The camp addressed a spectrum of complex medical conditions spanning cardiology, neurology, gynaecology, ENT, ophthalmology, oral health, and general medicine. Many of these issues go undetected until they reach critical stages, posing a serious public health challenge across urban and semi-urban communities in the region.”
For many attendees, this was their first opportunity to consult multiple specialists without the need to travel or wait long. 55-year-old Memuna Abdul Ghani, a resident shared, “Having access to different doctors in one place made it much easier for us. These camps are very helpful.”
With Jamnagar serving as a major industrial and cultural hub in Saurashtra, and with the district’s public health infrastructure still scaling to meet growing demand, initiatives like this one fill a critical gap, complementing government programmes and ensuring that specialist care reaches those who need it most.
