Gujarat govt to launch ‘Atal-Sneh’ programme on December 25: Rupani

Gandhinagar: Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani while launching school health checkup programme for this year in Gandhinagar said the state government is going to launch ‘Atal-Sneh’ programme for new-born child screening and treatment from December 25.

Rupani said: Every year 2.60 crore children are born in our country of whom 17 lakh have some defect or they are ill. The government is going to launch Atal-Sneh programme on 25 December which is birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Under this programme screening of new born babies will be done in private and government hospitals through doctors, family health workers and RBSK teams. In serious condition, new born child will be referred to a doctor. In lesser serious condition, baby will be referred to local level facility. Followup will be done through family health workers and RBSK teams.

Rupani said ‘108’ ambulance service has attended 3.79 lakh calls so far. Government is now also thinking about introduction of air ambulance in future. Government has opened 52 affordable generic quality drug stores across the state. Advertisements in print are issued for opening of 500 stores which will be functional soon.

Rupani flagged of 25 new ambulances on this occasion.

He said, ‘108’ had become a phrase. If some friend/family member is so reliable that he is always at help in urgent circumstances, he is called 108.

Rupani said government is going to bring new health policy to ensure more superspeciality hospitals and doctors even in remote areas. Through this policy, government also intends to double the number of seats in medical colleges in Gujarat.

On School Health checkup programme, Rupani said lats year 1.25 crore students underwent medical checkup under this programme. He said government is committed to offer medical care to those found needy during the screening process. Those in need of medical care will be even sent to hospitals outside Gujarat for treatment by government.

Prayer in this function was sung by a girl Unnati who was deaf and dumb earlier before the government could provide her medical care.

DeshGujarat