Imphal, March 17 2009: Standing high in a partial building at the heart of Tuibuong bazaar in Churachandpur district headquarters is a privately run Zion Clinic and Diagnostic Centre which of late happens to be a sanatorium at home for many patients of Tuibuong area, who have been struggling hard under strained circumstances, where they get treated easily of their ailments.

Instated as recent on January 5 last, Zion Clinic and Diagnostic Centre is now fast becoming a name to reckon with for the people of the Churachandpur district headquarters as well as its interior areas.

Run by a surgeon whose mission is as great as his heart, the clinic is indubitably a rest home near home that too at just a throw away price for the people of the district.

Dr James Touthang, with zeal to work for the betterment of the needy people, is the man behind the Clinic.

Spinning like a top 24X7 since the launching of the clinic, Dr James still feels like doing a yeoman service to the people instead of complaining.

The Clinic is presently attended by two Doctors, an equal number of Nurses, and other technical and manual staff catering to the needs of around 25-30 patients a day at an average.

Believe it or not, the Clinic has on some occasions (days), recorded more than 50 patients registering their names for treatment both as an outdoor and indoor patients.

Interacting with Hueiyen Lanpao, one of the out patients, Esther (33) of B Phaicham village said that the Clinic is a blessing for the people of the district headquarters as well as for the people of far-flung areas.

She said that she used to go to the Churachandpur District Hospital for treatment earlier after spending some amount as traveling fares but now she has the chance to be treated just near her locality with only a few minutes walk.

Esther said the treatment is neither bad at Zion Clinic.

A five-year old boy, Stephan (name changed) of Tuibuong was given minor operation in his tongue as he was unable to exercise his tongue.

Post operation: In a show of attaining perfection physically, he grins and licks out his tongue to everyone who he confronted.

More heartening was, the expression of happiness writ in his elated mother's face.

"Yes, this is and will be of immense help for the poor people of the areas who could not afford to go to far-off places for medical treatment owing to economic deprivation," says Lulun Haokip while adding that the altruistic service needs cooperation from all and sundry.

He further reasoned that the initiative needs a clap on the back.

A fifteen-bedded Zion Clinic, now at its nascent stage, is struggling hard to secure a place in the sun and to live up to its name among its peers.

"Lack of infrastructures has been our greatest disadvantage," soft-spoken and determined, Dr James Touthang said though he admits that the process of purchasing the needed equipments is on.

The young and energetic physician also said that the building of the Clinic will also be soon completed while ruling that a full-fledged hospital in the area will no longer be a dream then.

"The response from the people of the area is awe inspiring and this has renewed our vigour to serve them better," Kimboi Touthang, the supportive better-half of Dr James acknowledges.

Having been practiced for the past several years as a surgeon, Dr James integrity could not be reserved.

He had been serving at the Kangpokpi Mission Hospital for the past several years.

Patients from different areas of the district even as far as Singhat areas have been treated so far in the Clinic.

Indeed, the Zion Clinic and Diagnostic Centre is apparently going to be one of the contributing factors towards the development of Churachandpur district headquarters into a bustling township.

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