Date:25/08/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/08/25/stories/2007082558560300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Lifeline Express to conduct free surgeries

Correspondent

VIZIANAGARAM: Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Panabaka Lakshmi inaugurated the two operation theatres of the Lifeline Express (Rail Hospital of Impact India Foundation) at Gokapeta here on Friday. Free operations for eye, ear, cleft lip and polio will be conducted on the operation theatres of the train till September 14.

Speaking on the occasion, she thanked the Rotary Clubs and Impact India Foundation for providing medical facility to the poor in this part of the State. Ms. Lakshmi said that the Centre was contemplating on bringing in a rule shortly wherein qualified M.B.B.S students must serve at least one year in villages.

She said that the National Rural Health Mission was launched at a cost of Rs. 11,000 crores with an aim to provide quality medical facility to the poor. As part of the programme 5.82 lakh community health workers were appointed thoughout the nation. Of them 55,400 are working in Andhra Pradesh. Their main job is to create awareness among

rural poor about health tips and also persuade women to opt for institutional deliveries.

After the NHRM launch the institutional deliveries improved six times, she claimed.

Minister for Housing Botsa Satyanarayana, said, 100 IOL operations per day would be conducted in the two operation theatres.