PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun
The State Health department has deployed 25 specialist doctors and 178 medical officers for the upcoming Char Dham Yatra. The department has set up 57 screening kiosks in Dehradun, Haridwar, Rudraprayag, Chamoli and Uttarkashi where screening pilgrims will be done.
The Health department has pressed into service 177 ambulances on the Yatra route. Heli ambulances will also be deployed for airlifting serious patients. The pilgrims suffering from high blood pressure, heart diseases and other serious diseases will be given medical assistance and advice in these kiosks.
The department is specially focusing at Kedarnath and Badrinath. A 17 -bed hospital is already operational at Kedarnath and a 50 bed modern hospital is expected to start in Badrinath in the month of June.
The department officials informed that apart from 25 specialists and 178 medical officers a total of 414 paramedics will also be deployed in the Yatra.
Health minister Subodh Uniyal said that the government has strengthened health services in the Yatra this year. He said that the number of medical relief posts have increased this year. “We have deployed specialist doctors and made effective arrangements for the helicopter rescue and ambulance network for Yatra this year. A system for identification of high risk patients is also set in place. The State government is committed to a safe Yatra,’’ he said.
The Health secretary Sachin Kurve said that the department has prepared a micro plan for the Yatra. Special training is given to the medical staff and their deployment as per the roster is being ensured. “Our focus is not merely on treatment but also on prevention and making timely intervention. The pilgrims are being provided with health advisory in many languages and an awareness campaign has been initiated to provide correct information,’’ he said.
