NGO's rural health plan pays dividends

MYSORE: Efforts of Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement, an NGO, to reach out to the people in remote areas in H.D. Kote taluk with quality health care, has started showing positive results following the success of Rohini - rural oriented health initiative.
After four years of the launch of rural health care system, many in the remote areas are receiving quality health care.
Buoyed by its success, SVYM is expanding its operations to other predominant tribal belts of Hunsur in Mysore district and Gundlpet taluk of Chamarajanagar district.
SVYM president R. Balasubramaniam told ‘The Times of India’ that due to the good response of Rohini, they are taking it to other tribal belts. Rohini will also be extended to Nanjangud taluk.
Rohini is a comprehensive health care system, which includes primary and secondary health care units.
The apex institution of the programme, Vivekananda Memorial Hospital, was dedicated to the people by chief minister S.M. Krishna on Wednesday during his visit to H.D. Kote taluk.
This secondary care institution, built at a cost of Rs 3 crore, will provide comprehensive health care to rural and tribal population.
Rohini is developed and implemented by SVYM. The hospital has all modern facilities, Balasubramaniam noted. It is situated at Sargur.
“Initially, we will concentrate on providing primary health care in three taluks. In this regard, we are launching an eye-screening camp at Hunsur taluk as the number of cataract patients are more.’’
The camps, organised in association with National Association for Blind, will help combat cataract problem among tribals. “From July 1, two camps will be organised in a week and those who need surgical correction will be operated at Vivekananda Memorial Hospital,’’ he noted.
Vivekananda Memorial Hospital has a hi-tech OT, which is not available even at the taluk hospitals in this region. “Many tribals are keen on receiving treatment at the hospital,’’ he claimed.
To provide comprehensive health care, SVYM has established a network between noted medical institutions in the nation, including Narayana Hrudayalaya in Bangalore and Amritanandamayi Institute of Medical Sciences in Kochi and Ravindranath Institute of Health Sciences in Kolkata.
Medical officers regularly get expert guidance from 34 institutions to provide quality health care.
“Telemedicine linkage is proving a boon to us.’’
Heart patients who need surgery are referred to Narayana Hrudayalaya, he said, adding the main thrust of Rohini is networking and resource sharing.
“At many places, we collaborate with the government to reach out to people and at others, we provide it ourselves.’’
SVYM has been selecting local youth as para medical staff in its institutions and as volunteers at the field level. “Through Rohini, we are encouraging community participation in quality health care,’’ he added.
The hospital has also adopted a scientific waste disposal system and rain water harvesting along with solar power for lighting.