Mobile healthcare van launched at Mokshi village in Savli

A mobile healthcare van was launched in Mokshi village to provide healthcare facilities to the people at their doorsteps. This healthcare unit on wheels will target around 35,000 people living in the nearby villages, especially women and children. The aim is the early detection of diseases and the provision of timely and effective treatment to the beneficiaries. The van will also conduct special sessions exclusively for women to address their issues, which they sometimes hesitate to discuss in the presence of men and other people.

The mobile van will provide comprehensive healthcare facilities to the villagers living in Mokshi and the nearby 20 villages. The van will travel to the villages and work on the early detection of diseases and provide preventive care. The patients who need major treatment will be referred to hospitals after the initial screening. The van is equipped with various types of facilities, including hemoglobin, blood sugar, and blood pressure testing.

“This van is provided by Corteva, an agriscience company, under its project Annapurna 2M. This is an initiative to uplift two million women farmers by 2030. The company, in collaboration with OneStage (registered as Charities Aid Foundation India) and Deepak Foundation, is leading this healthcare CSR initiative, “Annapurna 2M: Community Mobile Healthcare,” with a special focus on rural women,” said Sujit Kumar Sahu from Onestage.

“The initiative aims to address critical healthcare gaps in rural India by deploying mobile health units (MHUs) equipped to deliver essential medical services to underserved populations. Nearly 25,000 primary health centers (PHCs) have been set up in India to provide critical healthcare services in areas with limited access to private or government hospitals. However, there is a need to extend these services to remote, rural parts of the country, where traveling to a PHC isn’t always a viable option. A day’s travel often comes at the cost of farming or labor, leading to delayed attention to health concerns—especially for women. The ‘Community Mobile Healthcare’ project aims to bridge the gap by providing on-the-ground healthcare services in villages in Vadodara, Gujarat,” said Nilesh Borse, Head, Savli unit.

Over the next 12 months, this project will deliver medical services to 125,000 patients across six states: Ratnagiri (Maharashtra), Vadodara (Gujarat), Chikkaballapur (Karnataka), Medchal & Siddipet (Telangana), East Godavari (Andhra Pradesh), and Morena (Madhya Pradesh), focusing on women’s health issues including anemia, maternal health, and reproductive health. To ensure quality access to healthcare, each MHU will be staffed by qualified medical professionals and equipped with essential diagnostic tools and medications to provide support and referrals. This initiative will also educate rural communities about prevalent health issues and preventive measures, such as those for non-communicable diseases, infectious diseases, and general wellness.

“This van will provide comprehensive healthcare to the people of this area, aiming for early detection and timely provision of necessary healthcare. We will attempt to collaborate with government hospitals to promptly refer patients for treatment. The van is equipped with basic healthcare facilities and will visit villages to conduct screenings, detection, and provide medication, all free of charge. The goal is to provide healthcare to those who cannot afford it and who sometimes neglect their well-being. The ‘Community Mobile Healthcare’ initiative will involve local community leaders and health workers to ensure effective outreach and utilization of services. Additionally, patient information systems will be employed to monitor service delivery and outcomes. This initiative is set to significantly improve health outcomes in these rural areas by addressing immediate healthcare needs and promoting long-term health improvements. Key indicators of success will include the number of patients served, improvements in health metrics, and increased community awareness of critical health issues,” said Dr. Akash Kumar Lal, Deputy Director of the Deepak Foundation, the implementing partner of the project.

The launch event, held in Mokshi in Savli, was attended by representatives of companies, government officials, healthcare professionals, ASHA workers, and the local community.