Maoist-hit Abhujmad secures new space for hope & recovery: An operation theatre

“The entire population in Abhujmad is tribal. We are bringing development in the Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) affected area. I see this as a game-changer,” Vasant told The Indian Express. “In future, we want to extend more medical facilities here such as C-section surgery, sonography and all other facilities available in the district hospital.”

Chief Medical Health Officer Dr T R Kunwar said, “Orchha already had four doctors and five nurses. We made a special team of four surgeons, two dentists and 12 nurses (for the surgeries). Three surgeons, including me, are from Narayanpur and one from neighbouring Kondagaon district.”

“More than 20 surgeries have been done. We have been camping here for the past three days. We will finish more than 30 surgeries before returning to Narayanpur,” he said.

“We performed laparoscopy as well as surgeries for hernia and lipoma among others. People from the primitive Abhujmadiya tribes had come for vasectomy but we told them special permission would be needed because of their scarce population,” the doctor said.

Talking about the difficulties they faced, Dr Kunwar said, “It is a LWE-affected area, so we went there without any police security. Secondly, mobile networks are a major issue here. So, the health officers had to personally approach villagers and identify patients.”

“We did a diagnosis of the selected patients and shortlisted the ones who needed surgeries. There was a 62-year-old patient who had hydrocele issues for 15 years. He could not walk properly. We counselled him to come to Narayanpur but he never came. We convinced him and performed the surgery today. He is now happy,” he said.

A 3,702 sq km unsurveyed land, Abhujmad comprises areas from three districts – Narayanpur, Bijapur and Dantewada. Maoist activities over the years as well as the difficult terrain, which makes it tough for the security forces, have led to slow development in Abhujmad. It is considered one of the most backward areas of Chhattisgarh.