Gandhinagar, June 17 (IANS) In a move aimed at extending healthcare access to some of Gujarat’s most remote tribal settlements, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Wednesday launched 51 two-wheeler mobile health units and flagged off nine new mobile health vans that will operate across 14 districts of the state.

The new fleet was flagged off from Gandhinagar in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi and Health Minister Praful Pansheriya.

The initiative has been introduced by the state Health and Family Welfare Department to strengthen healthcare delivery in tribal and inaccessible regions and ensure that primary medical services reach residents at their doorstep.

According to the state government, the programme has been designed to support the holistic healthcare approach advocated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi by improving access to quality healthcare services for citizens living in tribal and remote areas.

The 51 two-wheeler mobile health units have been specially developed for locations where four-wheeler medical vehicles are unable to operate due to difficult terrain, poor road connectivity or geographical constraints.

Officials said the units would be used to provide healthcare services during emergencies as well as routine medical outreach activities.

Each unit is equipped with a medical box containing essential medicines and primary healthcare equipment.

The vehicles also carry digital blood pressure monitors, stethoscopes, glucometers, clinical thermometers, haemoglobin meters, knee hammers, needle cutters, instrument trays and torches.

The system has been integrated with digital data-entry facilities for preventive healthcare services and linked with the Chief Minister’s dashboard for monitoring purposes.

The government said the initiative is expected to provide multiple health benefits to tribal communities. Regular health check-ups for pregnant women, newborn babies and children will be conducted, while counselling and treatment services will be made available at the local level.

Officials said the programme is expected to contribute to improved maternal and child health outcomes by facilitating timely medical intervention and reducing delays in access to care.

The units will also support early diagnosis and treatment by enabling primary screening for blood pressure, haemoglobin levels, blood sugar, malaria and urine-related conditions within villages.

Patients requiring specialised treatment will be referred promptly to the nearest government healthcare institution, allowing faster access to expert medical care.

Special attention will be given to adolescent girls and women through guidance on anaemia, nutrition, adolescent health and family welfare.

Health awareness activities will cover HIV/AIDS, tobacco-related diseases, communicable diseases and non-communicable diseases, while information about government healthcare schemes will also be disseminated among local communities.

The programme includes GPS-based real-time monitoring of all units. Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities, reporting by medical officers and monitoring at taluka, district and state levels will be carried out through a digital system, enabling local implementation as well as central oversight.

–IANS

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