Vedanta Electrosteel Steels Limited (ESL) launched ‘Aarogya Rath’ – free mobile health units to help improve access to quality healthcare facilities in Bokaro district. The ESL CSR department, in association with the Citizen Foundation, set up two health camps in Siyaljori and Babugram villages respectively.
Speaking on the launch of the project, Pankaj Malhan, CEO, ESL said, “At ESL, we are committed to empowering communities, and positively impacting lives. In all our neighbouring villages, including Siyaljori and Babugram, healthcare is an ongoing challenge – because of the remoteness of the location, lack of on-time facilities, testing, or access to adequate medicines."
"In view of these keeping issues, we have started the Aarogya Rath – a complete mobile healthcare unit that will provide free health checkups, testing, as well as medicines to all in need. Beginning with 50 people in Siyaljori and Babugram, we plan to grow and provide necessary help to all 27 villages under our care, at all times. It is our privilege to be able to give back to our society in times of need. We will continue to support our communities,” he said.
At camp, Dr. K. K. Sinha (Former RCH Officer) said, “This is a great healthcare initiative as many people in the districts and villages surrounding Bokaro would benefit immensely from these health camps. At present, patients have to travel to Bokaro to receive any treatment, making it a time consuming and expensive process. The Aarogya Rath by ESL will improve accessibility to healthcare in these villages thereby decreasing the need to travel long distances to get adequate treatment.”
ESL, in association with the District health department, will expand these camps to include many more services in the near future. The services will include counselling for HIV/AIDS and menstrual hygiene, antenatal, neonatal check-ups; screening for TB, STI, anaemia, eye ailments and treatment for skin diseases, malaria. The aim is to positively impact more than 30,000 lives in 27 villages under the Aarogya healthcare initiative.
