The Baikal-Amur Mainline (BAM) is a railway line in Russia. It's about 4, 000 kilometres long. A special train, the Matvei Mudrov (MM) travels along it. The train brings basic medical treatment to people living along the railway line. The train took its name from a famous Russian doctor. There are usually between twelve and fifteen doctors on the train. The train stops at places along the line The people who live in small towns and villages come to the train for medical help. For them, their health centre is on the train because there are no doctors or hospitals in their towns or villages.
The MM visits each town or village twice a year. People like the doctors on the train. They say they are kind and good at their jobs. There is a town called Berkakit and about 4, 000 people live there. There are lots of people waiting to see the doctors. Mikhail Zdanovich is one of them. When he was 61 years old, he had a problem with his arm. He got good treatment by the doctor on the train, and he felt much better. He left happily and then he came back a few minutes later. He brought fresh cooked bread and some milk to thank the doctor.
For the people who live in these towns and villages of Russia, the MM is more than a medical train. It's a bridge between them and the other parts of their country.
