Doctors for Seva

A unique health initiative for deprived people?

Doctors for Seva, the health initiative launched by the Youth for Seva in Bengaluru to provide health services to deprived sections of society in and around Bengaluru, has proved to be a big hit. Encouraged over the response from the people as well as from the medico community it has now decided to extend its operation to Gulbarga district also.

Sinu Joseph, who is involved in the project, said the Trust had decided to first concentrate on Afzalpur taluk where health parameters were low. In Bengaluru, the Trust, with the help of a network of doctors and hospitals, provides voluntary services to economically backward sections of society. At present, there are 53 doctors and 27 hospitals who provide health services in Bengaluru schools and slums.

Ms. Joseph said practical difficulties, living conditions in villages, and language and cultural barriers made it difficult for taluk hospitals and primary health centres to retain doctors. Keeping this in mind, the Youth for Seva had decided to enlist local doctors on a volunteer basis to work at the taluk hospitals and primary health centres, thus bringing healthcare to the doorsteps of people in rural areas.

“We have now taken up the task of motivating doctors to volunteer their services on rotation,” she said. As per the government records, Aland and Afzalpur taluks had no specialists in government hospitals. “We want to persuade specialists to spare their services at least on rotation so that the people there have access to specialised treatment.” Doctors can decide how often they would volunteer their services, she added.            

(FOC)?