A village in Northeast gets medical help for the first time, thanks to IndiaUnheard

India Unheard   |   Goa

01-April-2011

Vol 2 | Issue 13

A video expose has helped over 500 people in a remote village of Manipur in North East India get healthcare for the first time. The video shot by Daniel Mate, IndiaUnheard correspondent from Chandel district of Manipur, inspired a local organization Burning Voices to donate a carload of lifesaving medicine for villagers who were in dire need of healthcare in a remote village.

In May 2010, Daniel Mate’s video ‘Village Lacks Healthcare’ showed the plight of a village called Bongli, 10km from Tengoupal, Manipur which had no access to healthcare. The lack of medicine and proper healthcare was forcing people to using herbs and faith healing to take care of their sick and dying.

Lending a hand: Video Volunteers’ Community correspondent Daniel Mate unloading a carton of medicines provided by Burning Voices for the villagers

The only remaining option is to travel 10 km to Tengoupal, where if they are lucky, the Public Health Centre would be open. Even if it is open, the centre may not have adequate staff to attend to their needs. Although complaints have been made, the government has taken no action so far to improve the situation for these people.
Once this story was shown on IndiaUnheard website, Daniel was contacted by Ronid Chingangbam – a senior member of an organization called Burning Voices. Burning Voices is a Manipuri youth group which promotes contemporary art and literature.

Ronid soon met Daniel with several cartons of medicine needed for the village, especially for pregnant women and children. Daniel, with the help of Kuki Student Organization, a local students’ group, and a local doctor, distributed these medicines among the villagers of Bongli as well as some other neighbouring villages that needed it. Over 500 people benefited from the medical camp.
 
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