BHARUCH: Close to 5,000 people of Maharashtra’s Nandurbar district living in the catchment area of Sardar Sarovar dam will get the much-needed access to medical facilities at their doorsteps.
The Maharashtra government will start an ambulance boat service for these people living in around 30 villages from January.
The villagers have to travel nearly 15 km through a small boat and another 20 km by road to reach a government hospital in Kevadiya Colony where the dam is located. Sources said that many have also lost their lives due to non-availability of timely treatment.
The trial run of the ambulance boat was done on December 28 and it will be fully operational by mid-January, said Anil Patil, district health officer, Nandurbar. The service has been provided under the Central government’s National Health Mission scheme.
The 15 feet high and 30 feet long boat will have all basic medical facilities besides oxygen cylinders, ventilator and an intensive care unit for critical patients. There will be one medical officer and two paramedical officers who will be equipped with walkie-talkie. Another boat is also expected to be made operational by May next year.