Nagpur: Devotion Meets Health as State Launches Ganesh Festival Check-Up Drive

Nagpur: The Maharashtra government has rolled out a 10-day statewide health campaign — *Shree Ganesha Arogyacha* — to provide free medical check-ups during the Ganpati festival. From August 27 to September 5, devotees visiting Ganesh mandals will get screened for a wide range of diseases. The initiative aims to turn mandals into not just centres of devotion but also community health.The campaign, guided by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, is being implemented through the Chief Minister's Relief Fund (CMRF) in association with government medical colleges, trust-run and charitable hospitals, CMRF-empanelled hospitals, and private hospitals across districts.In Nagpur, Collector Vipin Itankar chaired a coordination meeting with mandal representatives, health officials and doctors on Tuesday. He appealed to mandals to take part actively in the health drive and mobilise blood donation camps. "Along with devotion, this is the time to build a healthier society. Every devotee should also come forward for blood donation," Itankar said.Medical teams from two government and two private medical colleges, an ayurvedic college, and doctors from the public health department will work with 79 Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana (MJPJAY) empanelled hospitals and 30 charitable hospitals in Nagpur district alone.Camps will offer primary check-ups at mandals in every ward, along with screening and treatment for heart, kidney and liver ailments. Cancer care, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy referrals, neurosurgery, paediatric and orthopaedic consultations, dialysis, and care for thalassemia, sickle cell and genetic disorders will also be covered.Treatment will be provided under the PM Jan Aarogya Yojana and MJPJAY. District health teams will lead blood donation camps.Officials estimate over 900 public Ganesh mandals in Nagpur will join the campaign. Across Maharashtra, thousands more are expected to align with local health setups, making this one of the largest festival-linked health screening drives in India.Dr Sagar Pandey, member secretary and officer in charge, CMRF, said each hospital team is expected to cover 5-6 mandals in a district. "They will conduct primary screenings at each venue. If serious ailments are detected, patients will be enrolled under existing government health schemes for immediate treatment," he said.SHREE GANESHA AROGYACHA – HEALTH WITH DEVOTIONDuration | August 27 – September 5, 2025Who's InvolvedCM Relief Fund & Charitable Hospital Assistance CellDistrict Administration & Health Dept900+ Public Ganesh Mandals in NagpurHOSP & DOCTORS IN NAGPUR79 MJPJAY Empanelled Hospitals30 Charitable Hospitals2 Govt + 2 Pvt Medical Colleges1 Public Ayurveda CollegePublic health dept doctorsKEY SERVICES (FREE)Heart, kidney & liver disease check-upsscreening (chemo, radiotherapy)Neurosurgery, paediatric & orthopaedic careDialysis, thalassemia, sickle cell treatmentSMA & rare disease supportBlood donation drives