Now, people living in the remotest parts of Gujarat’s Valsad district can have easy access to good healthcare facilities in case of emergency by just dialing for an ambulance. The district has launched ambulance service in 23 new PHCs to improve its overall health infrastructure. The centres that lacked this service were identified and ambulances granted, in order to lower down the mortality rate and to provide timely referrals. This initiative will add to the development of the district as many issues related to health in remote areas will be resolved in no time.
Indian Masterminds spoke to IAS officer Manish Gurwani, the District Development Officer (DDO) of Valsad. to get more details.
NEED FOR AMBULANCES
Valsad district has 51 PHCs and 10 Community Healthcare Centers (CHCs) catering to various healthcare needs of the district. While speaking with Indian Masterminds, DDO Valsad, Manish Gurwani said, “While we were reviewing these healthcare centres, we found out that people transport ambulance service is still not available in as many as 23 healthcare centres. This is when we decided that, by converging all the schemes, we will provide ambulance service in each of these centres.”
Because of the unavailability of ambulances, it was difficult for pregnant ladies to get timely maternal health assistance and also referrals couldn’t run smoothly. Hence, this initiative was taken up to make the process smoother and time effective, the officer added.
SOURCING FUNDS
With the efforts put in by the department during the last few months, 23 ambulances have been planned through various grants of the state government. Ambulances in Magod, Nanitambadi, Nanidholdungri have been sought through the District Planning grant, whereas, ambulances for Umarsadi, Khatalwada and Anklach have been issued under Tribal Area sub-plan( New Gujarat Pattern).
Through Notified Area grant, four ambulances are coming up in Chhiri, Karwad, Fansa, Solsumba. Mr. Gurwani has granted three ambulances through his personal DDO funds in Vatar, Dharasana, Hanumatmal respectively, while two CHCs, Nanapondha and Kaprada, will be issued ambulances through the local MLA’s grant and one ambulance issued for Dehri through the Gram Panchayat, Dehri’s fund.
Similarly, other ambulances are coming up through various grants under the state government. Mr. Gurwani mentioned, “Each ambulance comes at a cost of Rs. 15 lakh, and all have been approved under various grants. Bidding for around 18 ambulances have been completed and seven have reached the respective healthcare centres. In one or two months from now, all the ambulances will be functional and will be benefitting the people living in the remotest parts of the district.”
STRENGTHENING HEALTH CARE CENTRES
The ambulance service will be a boon for the tribal-dominated blocks of Dharampur and Kaprada, especially for the people using referral services, as this area is known for its rough terrain making it difficult to access transport facilities otherwise.
Apart from providing ambulance service, the administration is also strengthening the healthcare centres to make sure that women faces no issues during delivery, there is no shortage of good quality delivery beds, baby radiant warmers, and trained medical staff.
