In a bid to impart quality healthcare and diagnostic services to the people at their doorsteps, the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today launched the state government’s ambitious program of 'Aware and Care' by flagging off 100 Information Education Communication (IEC) mobile Vans.
Interacting with the media persons on the sidelines of the function here at Rajendra Park, the Chief Minister said that the basic objective of rolling out these vans was to apprise people about the fatal diseases like Cancer, Hepatitis-C, Cervix Cancer etc. and the preventive measures to be taken to cure the patients inflicted with these diseases in the earlier stages. Likewise, this program would also aim at creating awareness amongst the people about the diseases like Dengue, Chicken Guniya, Malaria etc. with the focus on sensitizing them about personal hygiene and cleanliness of environs around them.The Chief Minister hoped that this unique program would provide the quality health care and diagnostic services to the people at their doorsteps. He said that the state government has initiated several path breaking initiatives for imparting quality healthcare services to the people adding that these vans would be instrumental in keeping updated them about the umpteen healthcare programs and schemes launched by the state government. Mr. Badal said that Punjab was the only state across the globe to impart free treatment for deadly diseases like Cancer and Hepatitis-C but unfortunately most of the people were not aware about these health initiatives. He said that the state government would soon launch a scheme to provide free medicines to the people through special chemist shops being setup in the villages across the state.The Chief Minister said that these vans were equipped with audio video gadgets to inform the people about various healthcare programs.
Likewise, he said that a team of doctors would accompany the vans to diagnose the people and provide free medicines to them. Mr. Badal said that these vans would revolutionize the health sector by offering free and quality mobile healthcare services to the people especially in the far flung areas of rural sector by offering a direct access to the best health and diagnostic facilities. Mr. Badal said that these vans would act as a catalyst for making our Punjab a healthy and vigorous state.Divulging the details of the health awareness campaign, Principal Secretary Health & Family Welfare Mrs. Vini Mahajan said that these vans would cover the entire villages of the state within a period of month starting from November 5 thereby daily covering five to seven villages per day. She said that during the night stay in village, street plays (nukkad naatak) would be performed to disseminate the message to stay ‘healthy and fine’ amongst the people. She impressed upon the people to get any additional information regarding these health initiatives and IEC vans on the toll free medical helpline number 104.Mrs. Mahajan said that this program was being organized by the Health department in collaboration with the departments of Rural Development & Panchayats, Women & Child Development, Education, Police and Local Government. She added that teams of Medical Officers, Rural Medical Officers, Ayurvedic Medical Officers, Ayurvedic & Homeopathic Doctors, Paramedics, Counselors etc have been deployed alongside with these IEC Vans. OPD services and Medicines would be provided free of cost by the medical teams.Prominent amongst others who were present on the occasion included; Principal Secretary Health & Family Welfare Mrs. Vini Mahajan, Secretary Health & Family Welfare Mr. Hussan Lal, Special Principal Secretaries to CM Mr. KJS Cheema and Dr. S K Raju, Director Health & Family Welfare Dr. HS Bali besides several senior officers of the Health & Family Welfare department.