Medical Services at UHTC Khaja Bazar during URS-e-Shareef, Hazrat Khwaja Banda Nawaz (Rh) - 2026

The Department of Community Medicine functions under the Faculty of Medical Sciences, KBNU in Kalaburagi. The department is actively involved in urban and rural community health outreach through its Urban Health Training Centre (UHTC) at Khaja Bazar and Rural Health Training Centre, Aurad (B).

The UHTC Khaja Bazar serves as an important field-practice area for:

• Preventive healthcare delivery

• Community-based disease surveillance

• Public health education

• Training of MBBS students, interns, and postgraduates in Community Medicine

The annual URS-e-Shareef of Hazrath Khwaja Banda Nawaz^RH Dargah attracts massive gatherings of pilgrims from across India, creating increased demand for organized medical and public health services.

Objectives of Medical Services during URS 2026

The Department of Community Medicine, FOMS-KBNU, organized and supervised healthcare services at UHTC, Khaja Bazar during URS 2026 with the following objectives:

1. To provide immediate and accessible healthcare services to pilgrims.

2. To prevent communicable disease outbreaks during mass gathering events.

3. To strengthen emergency response systems.

4. To conduct health education and sanitation awareness activities.

5. To provide field training to undergraduate and postgraduate medical students.

6. To coordinate with district health authorities and emergency services for managing public health crises, staging disaster responses, or ensuring medical coverage for mass-gathering events.

Administrative Structure

Supervising Authority

• Department of Community Medicine, FOMS-KBNU

• Medical Superintendent and Administrator, KBN Teaching and General Hospital.

Operational Team

The healthcare team consisted of:

• Community Medicine faculty members

• Consultants from department of General Medicine, General Surgery, Orthopedics, Pediatrics and OBGY.

• Junior residents, tutors and postgraduate students

• MBBS interns

• Nursing staff

• Medical social workers

• Pharmacists and Laboratory technicians

• Field health workers and volunteers

Coordination was maintained with:

• District Health Office

• Kalaburagi Municipal Corporation

• Police Department

• Ambulance and emergency transport services

Medical Services Provided

1.     Outpatient Medical Care (OPD Services)

OPD facilities were provided at UHTC Khaja Bazar 24X7 for first 10days (02/05/2026 to 11/05/2026) and from 08:00am to 12:30am for next 20days (12/05/2026 to 31/05/2026) to manage common ailments among pilgrims.

Services Included

• Symptomatic treatment

• Basic investigations

• Prescription and free medicine distribution

• Referral services

2.     Emergency and First Aid Services

Dedicated first-aid and emergency response functioned throughout the URS period.

Emergency Care Included

• Management of syncope and exhaustion

• Trauma and injury care

• Immediate stabilization of critically ill patients

• Oxygen support

• Blood pressure and blood sugar monitoring

Emergency Referral Network

Serious cases requiring advanced treatment were referred to Khaja Bandanawaz Teaching and General Hospital where all the services including IPD, investigations, procedures, ambulance service, etc  were provided free of cost to the pilgrims. Ambulance remained on standby throughout the URS period 24x7.

3.     Public Health and Preventive Services

Mass gatherings increase the risk of communicable disease transmission. Therefore, preventive public health activities formed a major component of services.

Activities Conducted

Water and Sanitation Monitoring

• Inspection of drinking water points

• Chlorination monitoring

• Food hygiene inspection

• Waste disposal supervision

Vector Control Measures

• Anti-mosquito fogging

• Larval source reduction

• Public awareness on vector-borne diseases

4.     Health Education and Awareness Activities

Health education teams conducted continuous awareness sessions among pilgrims.

Topics Covered

• Hand hygiene

• Safe drinking water

• Prevention of dehydration

• Food safety

• Personal hygiene

• Respiratory etiquette

• Waste disposal practices

5.     Maternal and Child Health Support

Special attention was provided to vulnerable groups including:

• Pregnant women

• Elderly pilgrims

• Children

Services included:

• Antenatal check-up support

• Nutritional advice

• Pediatric consultation

• Immunization counseling

6.     Pharmacy and Essential Drug Distribution

Free medicines were supplied through the UHTC pharmacy.

Commonly Distributed Medicines

• Antipyretics

• Oral rehydration salts (ORS)

• Antacids

• Antibiotics

• Analgesics

• Antihistamines

• Topical antiseptics

7.     Training and Academic Activities

The URS medical camp also served as a field-training exercise for students under the Department of Community Medicine.

Educational Benefits

Students received practical exposure to:

• Mass gathering medicine

• Public health logistics

• Epidemiological surveillance

• Disaster preparedness

• Community interaction

• Health communication strategies

The department’s community-oriented training model aligns with the academic goals of the MD Community Medicine program at KBNU.

Challenges Faced During URS 2026

Major Operational Challenges

• Large crowd density

• Heat and dehydration among pilgrims due to hot and humid weather

• Language barriers with interstate visitors

• Peak-hour emergency overload

• Sanitation management in congested areas

• Continuous 24-hour service requirements

Despite these challenges, coordinated planning enabled uninterrupted medical support.

Outcomes and Impact

• Rapid management of common illnesses

• Reduced burden on tertiary hospitals

• Improved public health awareness

• Effective emergency referrals

• Enhanced disease surveillance

• Valuable field training for medical students

The integrated approach of curative, preventive, and promotive healthcare significantly improved healthcare accessibility during URS 2026.

Conclusion

The medical services provided at UHTC Khaja Bazar during URS 2026 under the supervision of the Department of Community Medicine, FOMS-KBNU, represented an effective model of mass-gathering healthcare management and also strengthened practical public health training and demonstrated the important role of Community Medicine in community-oriented healthcare delivery.

            During one month of URS total 3964 Pilgrims availed the benefits of medical services at UHTC, Khaja Bazar and 96 patients were referred to KBN Teaching and General Hospital.

The coordinated efforts of faculty, students, healthcare workers, and public authorities ensured:

• Timely medical care

• Efficient emergency response

• Disease prevention

• Community health education and

• Successful implementation of public health measures during one of the largest religious gatherings in India.

Dr. Shahnaz Shaheen (Professor and Head, Dept of Community Medicine) was the Chief Coordinator of the URS Medical Camp and Dr. M A Fahim (Professor, Dept of Community Medicine) was the Overall Supervisor and Camp Officer.