An innovative state-of-the-art health services delivery floating vehicle system
for interior reservoir area of 'Bargi' Dam Madhya Pradesh
Narayanganj, December 11, 2011: An innovative experiment by way of 'River Ambulance' was dedicated to the people on the Narmada banks in villages surrounding the Bargi Dam reservoir in Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh.
Located in deep jungles the villages on the Narmada bank in the reservoir area have poor or no road connectivity but are easily accessible from the river side. Scores of adivasis and other people living in these remote areas have been deprived of basic health care and other medical services because of lack of connectivity. Innumerable people have suffered major ailments and at times there has been loss of human life due to no access to health services.
Narmada Samagra has launched the 'River Ambulance' with the help of State Bank of India. It has a provision for a minor Operation Theater (O.T.), oxygen and also a cold storage for life saving drugs. With a tri colour floating high, the raft-turned-ambulance is totally eco-friendly as it runs on solar energy.
It would be equipped with medicines specially those for malaria, diarrhoea apart from such ailments that adivasis are vulnerable to. The minor O.T. will ensure that a patient will get emergency care as and when needed.
The health services would literally reach the door-steps of people living in remote areas as the river ambulance can travel in six inches deep water too and hence can reach the very bank. It is equipped with a telephone connection that can be used as a helpline. In case of emergency, the raft can cruise upto a speed of 30 kms/hour.
The need for reaching out to these areas was felt by members of Narmada Samagra led by Anil Madhav Dave, when they under took a rafting expedition along the length of Narmada in 2007. The urge to come up with a solution was further consolidated with a resolution to this effect announced during Nadi Mahotasava at Bandrabhan, hoshangabad in March 2010.
Dave said, "this is a humble effort to ensure that people in the remote areas do not suffer due to lack of basic health care."
The river ambulance will cover three destinations per day from Monday to Saturday. Narayanganj will be the base camp and it will travel to 18 villages in its coverage area and effectively cover population for about 50-60 villages.
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