Healthcare facilities available to tribals now

Bhubaneswar: Health care facilities which eluded tribal people in inaccessible areas of Odisha's Rayagada, Kalahandi and Nuapada districts for ages are now available at their doorsteps.

Things have changed after Utkal Alumina International Ltd (UAIL) of Aditya Birla Group?s Hindalco Industries Ltd, started operations in Kashipur block of Rayagada district and Thuamula Rampur block of Kalahandi district.

Health care received priority under Utkal Alumina?s Corporate Social Responsibility, company officials said adding they have set up a health centre at Nuapada with four experienced doctors, three in allopathic and one in homoeopathy, to provide health care services to patients.

Besides, specialists in gynaecology, medicine, pediatrics and surgery visit the health centre regularly and are available for consultation, a company statement said.

Moreover, the company has been providing health care services to people at their doorstep at 33 villages of 3 gram panchayats under Th. Rampur block and 27 villages of 6 gram panchayats under Kashipur block through two Mobile Health Units (MHUs), it said.

These MHUs conduct diagnosis, supply free medicines and raise awareness through Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities on sanitation and cleanliness, family planning, mother and child care, immunisation, nutrition and Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana.

During 2013-14, MHUs conducted 360 camps at Thuamula Rampur block in which 12,694 patients from periphery villages were treated free of cost. Similarly, 15578 patients received treatment in 524 health camps conducted in Kashipur block.