DHARAMSHALA: The Department of Health of the Central Tibetan Administration organised a five-day mobile health education programme at Tibetan settlements in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh states in northern India from 26 February to 2 March. The programme, which covered 11 Tibetan settlements, 4 monasteries and 6 schools, was funded by SOIR, IM.

“A total of about 4,000 people participated in the health education programme. It was aimed to create awareness about some common diseases in the Tibetan community, mainly about diseases like Tuberculosis, Hepatitis B, Cancer, Hypertension and Diabetes. Additionally, it was carried out to promote positive health seeking behaviours and to inculcate the importance of preventive measures and timely diagnosis among the public. Information on HIV/AIDS and substance abuse prevention were also provided, specifically targeting the youths,” Ms Trinley Palmo, Head of Public Health division of Department of Health, told Tibet.Net in a statement.

“The programme includes talks and discussions about preventive aspects and clarification of doubts and misunderstandings concerning these specific diseases and other health issues,” Ms Palmo said.

The local public, particularly the schoolchildren, expressed great enthusiasm in asking many interesting questions and also engaged in constructive discussions with the facilitators, she said.

“This mobile health education tour was quite successful in achieving its basic objective of encouraging people to have greater community mobilisation and dialogue regarding health issues, thus promoting grass-root public health outreach initiatives in the Tibetan community,” she added.

The Mobile Health Education was led by Trinley Palmo, Head of Public Health division of Department of Health, Tenzin Kapsang, health education coordinator and Dr Lodoe Phuntsok, Medical Officer of Dekyiling Health Center. They were accompanied by three nurses – Tenzin Dickyi, Tenzin Yangchen, a Tibet Corps volunteer, and Tenzin Yangkyi.