By Monika Paik, Champa Mallik & Osman Gani Sohag from Satkhira
A discussion meeting and free medical camp were held in Datinakhali Munda village under Burigoalini Union of Shyamnagar upazila on the occasion of World Mental Health Day, aiming to ensure health protection for women, children, the elderly, people with disabilities, and marginalized indigenous communities.
The event was organized recently under the campaign “16 Days of Global Action on Agroecology” by BARCIK and Green Coalition, with technical support from Doctor’s Door Diagnostic Center, Shyamnagar.
The day-long medical camp was presided over by Anandini Munda, president of the Datinakhali Munda organization. Patients were examined by Dr. Asiya Akhter Swapna (MBBS), a medicine and gynecology specialist and former resident medical officer at Dhaka Central Medical Hospital.
Before the medical camp, a discussion session was held with the participation of local health workers, teachers, women leaders, and members of different communities.
Distinguished guests included Sheikh Nazmul Hasan, Managing Director of Doctor’s Door Diagnostic Center; Rahul Modak, Assistant Managing Director; Champa Mallik, Programme Officer of BARCIK; Monika Paik, Associate Officer; S.M. Osman Gani Sohag, youth organizer; and Md. Shamim Hossain, Director of Bonojibi Youth Team, among others.
Speakers emphasized that mental health is equally important as physical health, yet many people in marginalized communities lack awareness, leading to various social and family problems. They urged that mental health services be made more accessible at the grassroots level.
During the camp, more than 70 people, including women, children, the elderly, and indigenous community members, received free medical check-ups and counseling.
