Dubai If you happened to pass by the Satwa mosque in the evening last Sunday, you would have seen a colourful bus parked close to it and a long queue of men at the door of the vehicle.
It is no ordinary vehicle. It’s the Dr Aster Mobile, a mobile medical clinic with advanced equipment, that provides free medical services to blue collar workers across the country. Last Sunday it stopped at Satwa.
Free screening
Even as the queue got longer outside the bus, two doctors and two paramedics inside were busy conducting tests for blood sugar and cholesterol levels of the workers, besides checking their blood pressure. Every patient also got his body mass index (BMI) calculated.
Often referred to as ‘Doctor on Wheel’, Dr Aster Mobile is an initiative by Aster DM Healthcare that has touched the lives of thousands of blue collar workers in the UAE. More than 130,000 people have benefitted from the programme so far since its inception in December 2012.
“Every day we set out to various labour camps and areas where there is a high concentration of blue collar workers,” said Dr Satish Kosuri, general practitioner, Aster DM Healthcare.
“We manage to screen about 4,000 people every month,” said Dr. Kosuri.
Besides the checks, primary medical care is given on the spot in case of an emergency.
“The clinic is equipped to take care of minor emergencies. But if we see a patient’s parameters are above normal – we advise them to go to one of our nearest clinics and seek immediate treatment. We also talk to them on the importance of regularly exercising and eating properly. Most of us speak multiple languages such as English, Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada and Nepalese. In case a worker does not have health insurance, our clinic offers special discounted rates.”
Dr. Kosuri said many workers who come for free medical screening are not aware they have pre-disposed conditions.
Pakistani driver Nasser Ahmad, 57, was not aware he had sugar problem until he did the random blood sugar test at the clinic.
Timely action
“I used to feel very tired and thirsty. I thought it was because of the heat. Last month, I happened to see this Aster clinic parked near my house in Satwa and decided to get myself checked. My blood sugar level was way above normal. I have been on medication since then and now the sugar level has come down to normal. If I had not done that check – God knows what would have happened to me.”
Sabir Bin Saleh, 44, an Indian worker with a logistics company, said he regularly gets a check done at Aster Mobile clinic. “It is very convenient. I don’t have to go looking for a hospital or a clinic to do a medical check-up. Once every month this bus parks in front of my house in Satwa and I do the test.”
Mritunjay Tiwari, 34, Indian, a project co-ordinator for a Jebel Ali Freezone company also said he regularly avails of services provided by the mobile clinic. “I feel lucky to get this opportunity. Back home something like this is unheard of,” he said.
