When Healthcare Came to the Coast

In Mangalam’s coastal villages, many families must travel far or forgo wages to see a doctor. To address this, the Family Commission of St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish, PHC Mangalam, and IDS Alappuzha organised a free one-day medical camp for the community.

Nearly 100 people received general and orthopaedic consultations, as well as free screenings for blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure. Medicines were provided at no cost.

Among those treated was a fisherman who had been living with shoulder pain for several months. “I thought it was simply part of my work,” he said. “Today I finally had the chance to see a doctor close to home.”

Fr. Jiby, Rector and Vicar of St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish, inaugurated the camp alongside Mr. Jose Chellappan, Vice Chairman of the Municipality, and the PHC Mangalam medical team. Fr. Jiby commended the Family Commission for addressing local healthcare needs and assured the community of future camps. Mr. Chellappan emphasized the shared responsibility for community health, and the PHC team affirmed its support for upcoming initiatives.

For many residents, the camp was more than a day of free treatment; it served as a reminder that quality healthcare should be accessible to all.