Srinagar, April 21 (ANI): Kashmir University has organised a 26-day-long health awareness camp for houseboat owners at the idyllic Dal Lake here.

The Directorate of Lifelong Learning and Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Kashmir University (KU) in collaboration with Indian Thyroid Society and All India Institute of Medical Sciences (New Delhi) organized "Free Health Camps" in the Mir Behri area of Saida Kadal.

The aim of the health camp was to create awareness among locals about self and family hygiene.

Director Lifelong Learning Kashmir University Gulam Hassan Mir said that free medical tests were conducted for locals.

"People living in this area are not aware with a lot of issues. There is a very low level of understanding in terms of sanitation, health hygiene, family welfare or taking care of their children's health, so after taking everything into consideration we have organised this free heath and medical awareness camp. We are also giving free health checks and diagnostic tests. The aim is to aware the people," said Mir.

Till now, 500 patients have been treated at the camp. Prominent endocrinologists and members Indian Thyroid Society attended the camp.

Bilal Ahmad, a patient at the camp, appreciated the initiative taken by the authorities.

"We are benefitting from this initiative and we hope there will be more health camps, at least once in a month. There are a lot of financial problems in Dal area. There are road problems also. Eighty percent of illnesses in this area are because of infection. The roads are dirty and there are other problems. We are happy that this medical awareness camp has been organised," said Ahmad.

Such periodical free mobile medical camps provide facilities to deal with hypothyroidism, diabetes and other allied endocrine problems.

The sewage from the houseboats and waste from hotels and homes on shore empty into the lake. Pollution had turned few portions of the lake waters into brackish green in the past. But with the efforts of the authorities, the cleaning project of Dal Lake is in progress since March. (ANI)

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Kashmir Varsity organises health camp for houseboat owners in Srinagar