Limpho Sello

THE Indian Association of Lesotho (IAL) will today hold a one-day charitable medical camp at Teyateyaneng Primary School in Berea district with the aim of contributing to the well-being of the surrounding community.

IAL is a registered non-profit, non-partisan and non-sectarian organisation set up in 1988 with the primary purpose of providing a cultural and educational platform for the Indian diaspora in Lesotho.

Over the years, the association has held similar camps across the country, offering free consultation and treatment for various ailments.

According to IAL President, Dr Sahila Peerbhai, the camp would be the third this year in their quest to promote healthy living among Basotho.

Dr Peerbhai, who is also a dentist by profession, said the charitable medical camps were launched in 1997 as a way of giving back to Basotho for welcoming the Indian community in the Mountain Kingdom.

“Lesotho has played host to the Indian society for many years, and we have always felt the welcome here, hence the establishment of these camps,” he said.

“We want to give back to Basotho and also promote healthy lifestyles among them. Since we began the medical camps, communities have expressed gratitude for the free treatment and medication they get.”

Dr Peerbhai said the camp would cater for everyone, regardless of age or medical condition.

“We decided to hold the camp in Berea because some of the community members have been unable to access health facilities for a long time due to a number of reasons,” he said.

“On hand to assist the members of the community will be specialists including a general surgeon, physician, dentists, psychiatrist, medical doctors, pharmacists, nurses and pharmacy technicians, counselors and other volunteers.

“Some of the doctors will be from the Ministry of Health, while others are private medical practitioners and the Indian army training team.”

Dr Peerbhai said they had also invited the Lesotho Blood Transfusion Services (LBTS) to solicit for donations from healthy members of the community amid an acute shortage of the vital fluid in the blood bank.

“Added to that, we will also be providing lectures on healthy lifestyles and health education to the community,” he said.