Hospital train to serve patients in Koraput from Feb 15

The Pioneer,Dec 7,2007

The Rotary Club of Jeypore, in collaboration with Impact India Foundation and Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, has arranged for Operation Raid under the Life Line Express Project, which is scheduled to be held from February 15 to March 2, 2008 at the Jeypore Railway Station, informed President of Rotary Club, Jeypore, Rajendra Prasad Jain.
A preparatory meeting on the project was held under the chairmanship of Anjani Agarwal, a senior Rotarian of the locality, at the Agrasen Bhawan at Jeypore.
"Since 1991, the world's first and India's only hospital train, consisting of a fully equipped hospital with operation theatres and crew quarters, has held 95 projects in the remote areas of rural India, in collaboration with the Indian Railways. The train, with its crew comprising 80,000 surgeons and medical personnel, have benefited around 3,70,000 persons, restoring sight to the blind, mobility to polio stricken, hearing to deaf and smiles to those effected with cleft lip," said Jain.
"I will provide full support and cooperation for the successful implementation of the project. Poor villagers should not be left out and massive awareness campaign should be organised by both the Rotary Club and the District Health Administration so that they can avail the facility," said MLA, Jeypore, Rabi Narayana Nanda, who was the chief guest on the occasion.
"Around 60 corrective polio surgeries, 60 cataract operation, 60 ear surgeries will be conducted, besides the 120 cleft lip operations that will be carried out during the scheduled period. The District Health Department will be providing specialized surgeons, anaesthetists, orthopaedists, physiotherapists, audiologists, ophthalmic assistants and other required medical and para-medical staff," assured CDMO, Koraput. The Life line train, which will have five coaches for conducting different activities, will arrive on February 15, railway sources said.
The meeting was attended by Rotarians Asish Agarwal, Sandip Jand, Ram Avtar Gupta, Mahesh Dholkia and other members of the Rotary Club, representatives from local NGOs, DPC, DPEP, Koraput PK Dash and Health Department officials.