New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: Aster Volunteers are reaching far and wide in India to cater to healthcare needs of poor patients. Its recent outing in Odisha will go a long way in helping them availing of government facilities.

Aster Volunteers, the CSR arm of Aster DM Healthcare, have launched an Ambulance services & rural health support program in collaboration with Local NGO ‘SWAD’ to provide a free ambulance service that will enable people from the district of Gajapati in Odisha to access government healthcare facilities.

The service was launched at a function held in the district block headquarters by Local MLA Mrs Basanthi Mallick. Mrs Suloti Roito, sarpanch, Jibo Panchayat presided the function.

The Ambulance was donated by the Aster DM Foundation to Jibo Villagers to serve more than 5 lakh people in the tribal district of Odisha. Further, to the launch programme Aster Volunteers from Ramesh Hospitals – Dr Anjaneya Mishra, Dr Md Sadiq, Mr P S Kumarvel (Sr Echo technician), Mr N Suresh (ECG technician) organised a free comprehensive medical check-up camp including free ECG and Echocardiography. 356 people from tribal areas in the district underwent checks ups at this specially conducted medical camp.

Speaking about the service Dr Azad Moopen, Chairman and Managing Director, Aster DM Healthcare said, ‘More than 60% of the people in the Gajapati district are unable to access Primary and Community Healthcare facilities due to lack of roads and public transport. Poor accessibility is one of the main causes for the district having over 75% incidence of childbirth at home. We hope that the people will be able to use the ambulance and can get medical treatment on time.’