Mumbai
Every two weeks, Ramlal gets his blood pressure checked at the AmeriCares India mobile medical clinic near his home in the slums of Mumbai.
In October, the 49-year-old security guard was greeted with flowers: Ramlal’s visit was the 100,000th patient consultation since AmeriCares India began the mobile clinic program in January 2011. AmeriCares India now sends four mobile medical clinics into Mumbai slum neighborhoods six days a week. Each van brings a doctor, two health workers and a pharmacy worker, and offers primary care and health education. More than 9 million people live in Mumbai’s slums, which have few services.
AmeriCares India doctors diagnosed Ramlal with hypertension two years ago and provide him with medication and lifestyle counseling. “They are doing a great service to the community,” says Ramlal. “If not for AmeriCares India, I would have lived with undiagnosed hypertension all my life.”
With support from donors, AmeriCares India plans to add more mobile medical clinics in 2014. Long lines outside the mobile clinics show the need for the quality primary care they provide.