ESL launches Aarogya Rath to take healthcare to villages

Bokaro: Electrosteel Steels Limited (ESL) of the Vedanta Group launched a free mobile health unit called ‘Aarogya Rath’ to help improve access to quality healthcare facilities in the district. The CSR department, in association with Citizen Foundation, set up two health camps in Siyaljori and Babugram villages on Thursday.
Around 50 people received free health check-ups and treatment in these camps. In the coming times, these healthcare camps will also provide free pathological services and medicines to citizens residing in the nearby districts.
Speaking on the launch of the project, ESL’s CEO Pankaj Malhan said, “In all our neighbouring villages, including Siyaljori and Babugram, healthcare is an ongoing challenge because of the remoteness of the location, lack of on-time facilities, testing or access to adequate medicines. In view of these issues, we have started the Aarogya Rath – a complete mobile healthcare unit that will provide free health check-ups, testing, as well as medicines to all in need.”
He added, “Beginning with 50 people in Siyaljori and Babugram, we plan to grow and provide necessary help to all the 27 villages under our care, at all times. It is our privilege to be able to give back to our society in times of need. We will continue to support our communities.”
At present, patients have to travel to Bokaro to receive treatment, making it a time consuming and expensive process. The Aarogya Rath will improve accessibility to healthcare in these villages thereby decreasing the need to travel long distances to get adequate treatment.
“ESL, in association with the district health department, will expand these camps to include many more services in the future. The services will include counselling for HIV/AIDS and menstrual hygiene, antenatal / neonatal check-ups, screening for TB, STI, anaemia, eye ailments and treatment for skin diseases/malaria. The aim is to positively impact more than 30,000 lives in 27 villages under the Aarogya healthcare initiative,” a statement read.