The Business Bytes
TBB BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR/KEONJHAR, FEB 13, 2024
The Odisha Mineral Bearing Areas Development Corporation (OMBADC) has played a pivotal role in supporting the establishment of modern ambulance services in the mining-affected Keonjhar district, significantly enhancing emergency medical assistance for rural communities.
Recognizing the critical importance of ambulances in emergency healthcare, OMBADC has facilitated the operation of three ambulances in Keonjhar district since 2021. These ambulances, comprising one Advanced Life Support (ALS) and two Basic Life Support (BLS) units, are stationed at government health centers across the district.
Named ‘OMBADC Seba Sanjog Bahana’, the ambulance service based at SDH Anandpur, CHC Salania, and HWC Sainkul has been instrumental in providing free transportation for critically ill patients from rural health centers to district headquarters or specialized healthcare facilities beyond the district. Since its inception, the service has benefited a total of 6,493 patients from May 2021 to December 2023, reaching approximately 200 to 250 patients each month.
The Advanced Life Support ambulance is equipped with essential lifesaving medical equipment such as oxygen, ventilators, pulse oximeters, glucometers, nebulizers, infusion pumps, suction machines, and various types of stretchers. On the other hand, the Basic Life Support Ambulances provide first aid facilities and essential drugs, excluding ventilators, to ensure prompt medical assistance during transportation, including spine boards for accident victims.
In addition to the ALS and BLS ambulances supported by OMBADC, the district administration of Keonjhar operates 108 and 102 ambulance services, further bolstering access to emergency medical care for residents in the vicinity.
OMBADC’s support extends beyond Keonjhar, encompassing various initiatives aimed at enhancing healthcare delivery in mining-affected districts throughout Odisha. Through its assistance, several health centers have undergone transformation, renovation, and modernization, significantly improving healthcare infrastructure in the region.
The implementation of modern ambulance services supported by OMBADC has notably strengthened the healthcare sector in Keonjhar district, underscoring the organization’s commitment to enhancing quality healthcare delivery in mining-affected areas across Odisha.
