Karnataka: Pilot initiative will provide healthcare to remote areas

Chamarajanagar: One of the biggest challenges faced by people living in hilly terrains is the difficulty of accessing medical care. Now, the Karnataka panchayat raj commissionerate, in collaboration with the Academy of family physicians of India, has launched a unique exercise on a pilot basis in two remote villages of the district to provide medical care at people's doorsteps.

With this newly launched initiative, the villagers will receive all the medical care they need at their own homes. This initiative has been called Arogya Aral.

According to authorities, on a pilot basis, Chandakavadi and Mangala gram panchayats have been selected for the implementation of this initiative. Under this project, healthcare services will be provided to each person in the village at his doorsteps. If advanced treatment is required, it will be provided through the village-level committee through a dedicated channel.

Both these villages are located in dense forests and difficult terrain.

As part of the initiative, at first, a baseline survey will be carried out and data on the health condition of every villager will be recorded. Later, if the villagers require any interventions for various health problems, they will be provided under this scheme.

Officials informed that recently, a training programme for gram panchayat staff and people's representatives was carried out on implementing this pilot initiative successfully by bringing all the stakeholders together.

Siddaraju M, panchayat development officer (PDO), Chandakavadi gram panchayat informed that a survey has been launched in the village to find out the household health scenario of every family.

"At the panchayat level, an Arogya Arali committee comprising the GP president, PDO, ASHA, anganwadi workers, various organisations and a doctor has been formed to implement this scheme," he explained.

"Whenever the villagers require medical help, the committee will intervene and extend the required support," he explained.