OREANDA-NEWS. Tata Power, India's largest integrated power player, has once again taken a step forward to provide primary, preventive and referral health care services to people around its area of operation. The mobile medical van services were inaugurated at Dharavi receiving station by Varsha Gaikwad, Minister for Women and Child Development, Government of Maharashtra; Eknath Gaikwad, Member of Parliament; and Vishnu Gaikwad, Corporator, MCGM, in the presence of Ashok Sethi, chief, COM, and other senior executives of Tata Power.

The mobile medical van will provide treatment for basic illnesses like cough, cold, fever, infections, malaria, dengue, typhoid and hepatitis. Complicated cases will be referred to the nearest hospitals. While the services will include curative medicine, there will be a focus on preventive medicine and maternal child health as well.

Speaking on the initiative, S Padmanabhan, executive director, operations, Tata Power, said, “At Tata Power, it's our endeavour to improve the quality of life by providing adequate medical amenities for those who find primary health care expensive and unaffordable.”

“The mobile medical van is a unique initiative which will be carried out in Mumbai as part of the “Health at Doorstep” initiative. The main aim is to encourage higher quality PHC and promote health-seeking behaviour as well,“ added Vijay Chourey, head, transmission.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Gaikwad said, “We are happy with Tata Power's resolve to make Chembur clean and green.”

“We appreciate Tata Power's efforts towards the community for employment, education and empowerment and would like the company to partner with the Government of Maharashtra as well.” said Mrs Gaikwad.

The mobile medical van will provide services in Mahul, Ambada, Gavanpada, Prabuddha Nagar, Ayodhya Nagar, Bharat Nagar, Rahul Nagar, Prayag Nagar, Vishnu Nagar, Vashi Gaon and Jijamata Nagar in Chembur, Mankhurd East and West, Thakarbapa Colony- Kurla East, Dharavi- around 90ft road up to Sion, Wadala and Parel, Tembhipada- Bhandup, Borivali East, Dahisar East and Mira Road East.

While 700 million people live in rural India in 6,36,000 villages, only 23,000 PHCs are available; 66 percent of the rural population does not have access to critical medicines and 31 percent of rural Indians travel more than 30km to seek health care. Also the PHCs are short of trained medical personnel. India has six doctors per 1,000 people and a majority of them are present in the areas where medical care is expensive. The mobile medical van will promote higher quality PHC as compared to currently available options across local self-proclaimed practitioners and home-based therapies. By providing regular and concentrated health care facilities, the mobile medical programme will promote health-seeking behaviour.