Kozhikode's ANGELS to save lives in three more States

West Bengal, TN, Tripura to implement medical care project

The Active Network Group of Emergency Life Savers (ANGELS) — a pilot project conceived and implemented by the Kozhikode district administration with the support of the medical fraternity to streamline the services of ambulance operators - is likely to be introduced in selected districts of West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Tripura.

Preliminary discussions in this regard are over and the emergency medical practitioners appointed by the State authorities concerned will visit the district to get a first-hand experience of the actual mode of implementation and take home a customised version to suit to their requirements.

P.P. Venugopal, Executive Director of ANGELS, says the move is a big recognition for Kozhikode district for the efforts it has taken to change the face of emergency medical care and incorporate it with the service of ambulance operators.

The three States expressed their interest after listening to a detailed presentation on the project at a recent medical conclave hosted by the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, Dr Venugopal says.

According to him, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu will be trying to pilot the project in the first phase. As per official communication, Kolkata is the identified destination in West Bengal.

P.B. Salim, former Collector of Kozhikode, who was instrumental in forming ANGELS, will coordinate the project there.

Similarly, Madurai will be the identified destination in Tamil Nadu to pilot the project. Narendra Nath, emergency medical practitioner from the State, will coordinate the implementation.

The forthcoming three-day international medical conference on emergency medicine to be held at Vythiri in Wayanad from November 18 is also likely to draw the attention of emergency medical practitioners from various countries and States to the ANGELS initiative.

“We will present the model before 1,500 invited delegates during the conclave and hope to win more followers for the project conceived by the Kozhikode district administration, which has already won several national recognitions” Dr. Venugopal says.