Uttarakhand government launched special mobile medical facility for the people of the State. Named after RSS founder Dr Hedgewar, the Arogya Rath, will look after the health needs of the people in remote areas. Each Arogya Rath consists of qualified doctors, nurses/ANM, Lab Technician, Ex-ray machine, microscope, weighing machine, and examination table with an attendant.
Inaugurating a Rath in Dehradun on February 27, Uttarakhand Health Minister Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal ?Nishank? pointed out that thirteen Dr Hedgewar Arogya Raths were going to be started. These Raths have been started under National Rural Health Mission. Dr Nishank said out of total 13 Dr Hedgewar Arogya Raths, seven have been handed over to NGOs for seven districts of Garhwal region and rest of the six Raths are for Kumanao region. The NGOs has already been bearing the responsibility of taking health facilities and productivity facilities to 100 sub-centres of 887 remote villages successfully.
The NGOs which will run the Raths included Shri Bhuvneshwari Mahila Ashram (Uttarkashi), Gomati Prayag Jan Kalyan Parishad (Rudraprayag), Shri Bhuvneshwari Mahila Ashram (Chamoli,), Himalyan Institute Hospital Trust (Pauri), Garhwal Community Development and Welfare Society (Tehri), Himalyan Institute Hospital Trust (Dehradun), Ambuja Cement Foundation (Haridwar).
In Pauri district, Nanidanda and Beerokhal, in Chamoli, Garsain and Ghat, in Tehri, Pratap Nagar and Jakhnidhar, in Uttarkashi, Dunda and Bhatwari, in Haridwar Bhagwanpur and Khanpur, in Dehradun, Chakrata and Kalsi and in Rudra Prayag, Jakholi and Ukhimath Vikas Khand will be provided with this facility. Six districts of Kumanu region will be given this facility before long. Dr Hedgewar Arogya Raths will render their services for 23 days in a month and these Raths will go to certain places on fixed dates and time and provide the people of the remote areas with basic health services.
Two developmental blocks have been selected in each district and 12 centers have been identified for the service. The people of the centers will be informed in advance the date and time of the arrival of the Dr Hedgewar Arogya Rath so that more and more people may take the advantage of these Raths.
