Aligarh: The Department of Periodontia and Community Dentistry, Dr Ziauddin Ahmad Dental College, and the Department of Tahafuzzi-wa-Samaji-Tib at Ajmal Khan Tibbiya College, in collaboration with the Department of Social Work in Aligarh Muslim University, organized an Oral and General Health Awareness Camp at the Uchtar Prathmik Vidyalay, Village Faridpur of Jawan.

The event's objective was to educate village people regarding the critical link between oral health and overall well-being, under the Tribal AYUSH Awareness Campaign launched by the central government.

While inaugurating the camp, Prof Rubi Anjum, Chairperson, Department of Tahafuzzi-wa-Samaji-Tib, stressed the importance of outreach programmes in spreading awareness among rural people about their health and wellbeing. She said that the primary objective of the camp is to raise awareness about cancer, its early detection and preventive measures.

Prof Naseem Ahmad Khan, Chairman, the Department of Social Work, highlighted the importance of such camps in raising awareness among common people regarding general health concerns and thus helping the people lead a healthy life.

The health camp coordinator, Dr Mohd Tahir provided the infrastructural support, while Dr Ammar Ibne Anwar, the Organising Secretary and Dr Abdul Aziz Khan, the Convener of the campaign made efforts to mobilize community people and provide support to the doctors’ team. More than 300 patients attended the camp and received free medication, provided in collaboration with the Dawakhana Tibbiya College.

Dr Nazia Sadaf, Dr Sahba Rana and Dr Anam Kamal of the Department of Tahaffuzi wa Samaji Tib provided consultation, while Dr Ghuncha Khatoon, Dr Saleha Hasan and Dr Aysha Farhin looked after the registration of the patients. Drug dispensation was handled by Dr Mohd Sabir Husain and Dr Md Sarfaraz Umar.

Prof Neha Agrawal, Chairperson, Department of Periodontia and Community Dentistry, supervised the dental doctors’ team, including Dr Syed Amaan Ali, Dr Hridya, and interns Faiza Alam Khan and Yusuf Sherwani, who provided dental consultations to more than 100 patients. Several patients were diagnosed with conditions such as fluorosis, dental caries, periodontal diseases, and poor oral hygiene and some of them were referred to the Dental College OPD for further consultation and treatment.