Surajpur District Collector Deepak Soni to overcome acute shortage of ambulance in rural area has come up with innovative idea of linking the village level available vehicles with community participation coined as ‘Sugam Swasth Surajpur’.
These village level registered vehicles will transport the patients to hospital from villages in emergency cases.
As per the concept, vehicle owner will be given a fixed amount. The amount depends on hospital mainly from village to Sub-health Centre rate is Rs 100, from village to Primary Health Center it is Rs 200, to Community Health Centre is Rs 300 and District Hospital rate is Rs 500.
Under the scheme, district administration has registered 463 vehicles. Meanwhile, health department is spreading the message to other remaining villages. Surajpur district has total 547 villages and 426 Gram Panchayats covered by 37 Primary health centres, 9 community health centres, and 209 sub health centres and one district hospital. The data points out that district has high rate of child mortality of 55 per 1000 and maternal mortality of 271 per 1000. The delivery at residences was reported to be 615 per 1000. Even though the district has six 108 ambulance and 11 Mahatari Express (102) services but people are unable to reach hospital on time. Similarly, the vector and water borne diseases is also taking toll of lives. The concept of scheme is to take patients to hospitals instead of waiting for ambulance. As locally available vehicle is used, it will provide timely medical assistance to pregnant women and in delivery related complications.