THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state on Wednesday launched the first air ambulance service in the government sector in the country, which is aimed at facilitating speedy transportation of organs harvested from brain-dead persons. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy launched the service at the Rajiv Gandhi Academy for Aviation Technology here.
Launching the service, Chandy said that the new facility would help save valuable lives. The idea was mooted when air ambulance was used for the first time to transport an organ from Thiruvananthapuram to Kochi last year. The government was of the view that the state should have an air ambulance of its own, Chandy said.
An MoU was also signed at the function between Rajiv Gandhi Academy for Aviation Technology and Kerala Network for Organ Sharing (KNOS), Mritasanjeevani, for operating the air ambulance. Rajiv Gandhi Academy for Aviation Technology Executive vice-chairman Chandra Mauli and KNOS state convenor Thomas Mathew signed the MoU. According to the MoU, the academy will run the air ambulance service. Health Minister V S Sivakumar said that all government and private hospitals where organ transplant could be held would be made part of the Mritasanjeevani project.
An amount of Rs 5 crore had been earmarked for that, he said and added that the Mritasanjeevani project would be a model for other states to follow.
The air ambulance facility was launched under the auspices of Mrithasanjeevani with the cooperation of the Home, Revenue and Disaster Management Departments. The ambulance service will be operated between government hospitals and prominent private hospitals in the event of emergency medical situations, including transportation of organs.
Ports Minister K Babu, DME Ramla Beevi, Rajiv Gandhi Academy for Aviation Technology secretary P Sharif and Mritasanjeevani nodal officer Nobel Gracious were present at the function.
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