Certain situations require immediate medical care and even a small delay may take a toll of precious human lives. Timely access to medical care is very critical in case of emergencies. However, such facilities are not available in many places especially in remote rural areas. Recognizing the need to serve these areas, GMRVF is running ambulance services in 5 project locations-Chattisgarh, Odisha, Rajahmundry, Rajam and Uttarakhand.

Highlights

• Ambulance is generally used for emergency cases where the patient is required to be moved to a hospital without any loss of time.
• The ambulance is for community members who cannot afford to transport the patient from one health facility to another. The request for the ambulance is based on the recommendation of the Doctor or other designated persons for meeting an emergency or for better treatment facilities.
• The vehicle is made available round the clock.
• Each ambulance caters to 30-40 calls on an average per month.
• In some places, community members are actively involved in the management of ambulance.

Case Study

It’s Like Re-birth!
For Bachan Singh, a 62 year poor old man from Pinola Ghat village of Joshimath tahsil in Uttarakhand, GMRVF has given a new life. In the month of September, 2010 Bachan Singh complained of severe chest pain. His family members called the pharmacist of the Foundation. After the examination it was felt that it was a heart attack. Immediately, the ambulance from the Foundation was called for and it took Bachan to the Government hospital of Joshimath. When he was stable, he was referred and shifted to the Government hospital at Dehradun in the same ambulance for better treatment. Bachan recovered soon and now he is living a healthy, joyful life with his family members. Bachan recalls the incident and says that as he is from a BPL family, arranging transportation facility at their own cost would have been difficult for them. He also shares that if something happened to him, his entire family of six members would have suffered as he is the major bread winner of the family.

“Today I am alive and talking to you only because of the support from Foundation” explains Bachan.