By Miss Siddhi Bheda for BIS Mumbai

“Healthy Communities, Stronger Futures”

To address the urgent healthcare needs of migrant and underserved families, Bosco Boys Home at Borivali, Mumbai, under Project Suraksha – Migrant Desk, in collaboration with SPARK Foundation and NIIT Foundation, organised a free health camp along with E-Shram, ABHA, and Ayushman Bharat Card registration on January 20, 2026 at Sai Baba Mandir, Gali No. 12, Ganpat Patil Nagar, Dahisar, ensuring essential medical care and access to government health schemes for the community.

Ganpat Patil Nagar is a congested settlement where residents struggle daily with poor living conditions. The narrow lanes remain muddy, especially in damp weather, and the absence of a proper drainage system has resulted in unhygienic surroundings. Many families live in vulnerable conditions, increasing their risk of illness while limiting access to affordable healthcare facilities.

Recognising these challenges, Bosco Boys Home initiated the health camp under Project Suraksha – Migrant Desk, with the objective of promoting preventive healthcare and facilitating registration for vital government welfare schemes. The camp aimed to reach migrant workers and daily wage earners who often remain excluded from formal healthcare systems.

The day began early, with Bosco Care staff and volunteers arriving at 8:30 a.m. to prepare the venue. Registration desks, medical check-up areas, and help counters for card registrations were set up inside the Sai Baba Mandir premises. Doctors arrived after 10 a.m., and the health camp officially commenced at 10:30 a.m.

The camp offered general health check-ups, blood sugar tests, and blood pressure monitoring. Based on medical assessment, medicines were provided as per the situation, and individuals requiring further attention were informed that follow-up support would be arranged. The doctors and volunteers worked patiently, ensuring that each community member was attended to with care and dignity.

A resident shared, “We usually ignore our health because treatment is costly. Today, we received free check-ups and medicines, which is a big relief for us.”
One of the organisers from Don Bosco Care stated, “Healthcare is a right, not a privilege. Through Project Suraksha, we aim to ensure that migrant communities are not left behind.”

By the end of the camp, around 80 people had benefited from free healthcare services, while approximately 20 individuals were successfully registered for E-Shram, ABHA, and Ayushman Bharat cards, strengthening their access to long-term health and social security benefits.

The flow of beneficiaries slowed down by around 4 p.m., after which the team wound up the camp. The initiative concluded successfully, leaving behind not just treated patients, but also a renewed sense of trust and hope within the community.

The health camp stood as a meaningful step toward inclusive healthcare and reaffirmed Don Bosco Care’s commitment to serving marginalized communities with compassion and purpose.