Extending its service in childcare and public health intervention, Kovaipudur-based Shanti Ashram has launched a customised paediatric ambulance in collaboration with the Rotary Club.
Minister for Municipal Administration and Rural Development S.P. Velumani inaugurated the ambulance-cum-hospital on wheels at a function held at the ashram on Saturday.
The paediatric ambulance that can also be used as a mobile clinic for community outreach programmes, is expected to serve 40 villages and 15,000 children in Coimbatore annually.
Kezevino Aram, president, Shanti Ashram, said that the paediatric ambulance has all emergency facilities and can be used as a clinic during outreach programmes. It also has advanced telecommunication facilities that can be used to pass information on the condition of the patient en route to hospital.
“This will boost activities of International Centre for Child and Public Health (ICPH) that takes care of primary health care and public health intervention by the Ashram in rural parts of Coimbatore. The vision behind ICPH and mobile clinic is to give every child, especially the most vulnerable ones, a healthy start to life,” said Dr. Aram.
The paediatric ambulance will extend emergency ambulance service to children in Kovaipudur, its surrounding semi-urban and rural areas along with 108 ambulance service.
Prakash Chandran, governor of Rotary International District 3201, said that the ambulance service is a joint initiative of Rotary Global Grants.
The ICPH functions in collaboration with Rotary Club of Coimbatore Heritage, Rotary Club of Neckertal, Switzerland, and Rotary Club of Wurzburg, Germany, which made the service possible.
At the event, District Collector T. N. Hariharan felicitated the children representing India in the Global Network of Religions for Children’s fifth forum to be held in Panama.
