ROURKELA: In a novel move, the Sundargarh district administration has initiated measures to take primary health services to the door step of rural people.
The administration has identified at least 45 remote and backward gram panchayats (GPs), including 25 mining-affected GPs of the tribal-dominated district, for introduction of 15 sophisticated mobile medical vans (MMVs) with funding from the District Mineral Foundation (DMF).
Administrative sources informed that the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) recently floated a bid identification notice inviting technical and financial proposals from reputed healthcare consultancy firms of national and international repute for implementation of the MMV project.
Collector and DMF Chairman Bhupendra Singh Poonia said, usually poor and underprivileged population in inaccessible pockets of the district face tremendous difficulties in availing primary health services. Absenteeism of doctors and medical staff with rural posting further aggravates the situation, he said. The MMVs would bridge the critical gaps which would additionally come handy to reduce infant and mother mortality rates and also act as referral points for critical ailments.
The project envisages delivering healthcare for minor ailments, communicable and non-communicable diseases, boost maternal and child health, organise health awareness and immunisation programmes at the doorsteps of the targeted population. The project would run for at least two years by when the administration aims to augment road connectivity to these pockets.
Project Director, DRDA, SK Meena said MMVs would have a software and to be equipped with all necessary medical and diagnostic equipment and medicines. Registration of patients would be made on real-time basis and each MMV will visit a particular village once to thrice a month. The vehicle would have a MBBS doctor, a qualified nurse, a pharmacist and a driver. Adequate provisions have been made for strict monitoring, he added.
It has been decided to deploy three MMVs to cover at least 12 GPs of Koida block, two MMVs each to cover minimum of six GPs of Hemgir, four GPs of Gurundia and six GPs of Lahuniparda block. Similarly, one each MMV would be pressed into service to cover a minimum of four GPs in Kutra, Rajgangpur, Bonai, Tangarpali, Lefripara and Balishankara blocks.
They would work under the supervision of respective chiefs of Community Health Centres (CHCs), he informed.
Healthcare on wheels
MMVs would be equipped with all necessary medical and diagnostic equipment and medicines
The vehicle would have a MBBS doctor, a qualified nurse, a pharmacist and a driver
Three MMVs would be deployed to cover at least 12 GPs of Koida block
Two MMVs each to cover minimum of six GPs of Hemgir, four GPs of Gurundia and six GPs of Lahuniparda block
One each MMV would be pressed into service to cover a minimum of four GPs in Kutra, Rajgangpur, Bonai, Tangarpali, Lefripara and Balishankara blocks