Odisha government launches bike ambulance service

108 Ambulance service will be provided to tribals staying in hilltop at Nagada village in Jajpur district

Tribals staying in hilltop at Nagada village in Jajpur district, surrounded by dense forest, will now get immediate health service as the Odisha government has decided to introduce ‘Bike Ambulance Service’ soon.

This was announced by the State Health and Family Welfare minister Pratap Jena after visiting Nagada, the remote village which had hogged the national and international headlines after series of children death due to malnutrition and lack of healthcare facilities last year.

Meanwhile, sources said the state government has already introduced bike ambulance service in Koraput and Rayagada district and a boat ambulance service in Malkangiri district to provide immediate health service to the people living in inaccessible areas.

This was the first visit of the Health Minister to Nagada village, totally dominated by a particularly vulnerable Juanga tribe. Nagada is under the mineral rich Sukinda block in the district.

Jena said a permanent 108 Ambulance service would be provided to the hilltop village after couple of months. He said the tribals residing in hill top village do not get medical treatment on time as these areas have poor connectivity. He visited all three hamlets – Tala Nagada, Upaar Nagada and Majhi Nagada.

The minister also said, a health sub centre would be set up at Kaliapani, about 10 km away from Nagada where a permanent doctor would be posted. Later, the sub centre would be promoted to new Public Health Centre (PHC) which can deliver better health care facilities to the tribals of the areas.

Besides, infrastructural facilities will be upgraded at Sukinda CHC and all vacant doctors post of the CHC would be filled up soon, he said.

The minister expressed satisfaction over the steps taken by the district administration and commented that there are many villages such as Nagada, which await government attention.

He said, the state government is taking a host of measures for the tribals from its own resources and asked Central government to assist in the mission.