Excelsior Correspondent
RAJOURI, May 13: Rajouri witnessed the celebration of a remarkable “century” — not in sports, but in the lives of patients who had once lost hope of walking without pain.
More than 100 beneficiaries of the Ayushman Bharat scheme joined doctors, citizens and their surgeon Dr Vikas Padha, to mark the successful completion of over 100 Knee Replacement and Hip Replacement surgeries for patients from remote tribal and border areas of Rajouri and Poonch.
Many of the beneficiaries had been suffering from severe knee and hip ailments for years, leaving them confined to their homes and dependent on support for movement. For several families, costly surgeries worth lakhs of rupees were beyond reach, while access to advanced treatment remained a major challenge.
Nearly two years ago, Dr Vikas Padha launched a monthly outreach OPD in Rajouri with the aim of taking specialised orthopaedic care closer to people living in far-flung areas who were unable to travel to Katra. Through these outreach camps, patients in remote villages were identified, counselled and guided for treatment under the Ayushman Bharat scheme.
The initiative has transformed lives, enabling patients who once lived in constant pain or struggled to walk to regain independence, return to work and live with dignity.
The programme was made possible through the continued support of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, under whose aegis Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Narayana Superspeciality Hospital functions.
Addressing the gathering, Dr Vikas Padha said expensive procedures like Knee and Hip Replacement became accessible because healthcare was taken to the doorstep of those who needed it most.
Dr Yashpal Sharma described the milestone as a shining example of how outreach healthcare can transform lives. A special event was organised where beneficiaries shared emotional recovery stories, while a short film, “Toote Parindon Ki Nayi Udaan – A Tale of Unique Century”, was also premiered.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
