GNRC signs MoU with Pawan Hans for medi-chopper service in NE

Guwahati, August 17, 2014:

India’s 68th Independence Day marks commencement of Swasthya Yatra
Multi-phase initiative aims to create awareness about hygiene, sanitation, preventive & promotive healthcare and healthy lifestyle practices among the people
GNRC signs Memorandum of Understanding with Pawan Hans for medi-chopper service

To commemorate completion of 67 years of Independence of the nation from colonial rule, GNRC (formerly known as Guwahati Neurological Research Centre), in association with several mass organizations, today facilitated the launch of a mass-awakening programme titled ‘Swasthya Yatra’ (Health March). The Swasthya Yatra – launched at a community meet organized at GNRC Medical, Sila Grant, North Guwahati – is an initiative that aims to build awareness and facilitate concerted action by community members about hygiene, sanitation and healthy lifestyle practices. The Yatra seeks to encourage individuals to achieve freedom from ill-health through preventive, promotive and curative healthcare. The Yatra will subsequently march ahead to other parts of North East, East and the rest of India.

The inaugural meet was graced by over 1000 members of the community and a host of dignitaries representing the participating organizations including Raphael Kujur, President of All-Adivasi Students’ Association of Assam; senior journalists Mr. Nava Thakuria; Mr. Hiten Mahanta; Mr. Khagen Kalita; Mr. M. Hazarika, Joint Secretary (Home), Government of Assam; Manindra Kumar Baruah, Founder Principal of North Guwahati College; Mr. Pranjal Saikia, noted actor and social activist and writer Ms. Bandita Phukan graced the event. Speaking on the occasion, Chief Guest Professor Umesh Chandra Sarma, Vice-Chancellor of Srimanta Sankardeva University of Health Sciences, said that Dr. Nomal Chandra Borah, Chairman & Managing Director, GNRC Hospitals Ltd, through this initiative, has embraced the entire society as his family – the well-being of which he has assumed the responsibility for.

The event witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between GNRC Ltd and Pawan Hans Ltd for facilitating medi-chopper service to remote areas of North East India. The MoU was signed by Dr. Borah in the presence of Shri Anil Srivastava, IAS, Chairman-Cum-Managing Director, Pawan Hans Ltd and Joint Secretary Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India.

The service, which builds on the concept of Medireach buses – Hospitals on wheels – will regularly ferry doctors from GNRC to difficult-to-access locations across the region and provide doorstep medical support to the population across the North-eastern states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim. It will also bring critical patients from remote locations to centre of excellence for healthcare. The medi-chopper will have ventilator & other necessary medical equipments to support patient on its way and will be taken care by doctors, trained physician & para medician and emergency medical technician.

Explaining the motive underlying Swasthya Yatra, Dr. Borah said, “Only when the body is free from diseases and an individual can contribute to the socio-economic growth of the nation, the nation prospers. To accelerate India’s progress towards prosperity, we bring to the nation an initiative that seeks to provide society a platform that delivers freedom from ill-health, to all, through the participation and contribution of all. I pray to all members of the community to join us in this public mission of creating a healthy society.”

On the occasion, Dr. Borah, announced that launch of fully-featured Swasthya Yatra website www.swasthyayatra.org and plans to launch a contest to generate ideas for creating a healthy society. He also announced the launch of four GNRC buses that would facilitate free transportation services for patient to GNRC Medical from remote areas of Assam.

About GNRC Hospitals

GNRC (formerly known as Guwahati Neurological Research Centre), was founded by Dr. Nomal Chandra Borah in 1985. It is the first super specialty healthcare centre in North East India and presently operates three hospitals offering over 500 beds. The British Standard Institute, London, has accredited the organization as ISO 14001:2008 compliant. GNRC Medical was recently chosen by the World Bank Group (WBG), through its India Development Marketplace (IDM) initiative, to receive a grant of US$150,000. GNRC Hospitals has also signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Singapore General Hospital to facilitate productive exchange of information, knowledge and skill of the doctors, nurses, Therapists and other ancillary services of the Hospital.

About Swasthya Yatra

A grass-root initiative to facilitate access to healthcare services by the population at the base of the pyramid, initially in Assam and then will march ahead to other states of North-East, East and rest of India. The yatra will build awareness and will encourage the population to recognise how they can manage their health and how managing their health creates well-being for their families and community. The yatra will connect healthcare professionals, anganwadi workers, teachers, NGO-workers, student unions, women, health groups, socio-political workers, panchayat members, athletes, entertainment artists, media, and other leaders of society and all members of community with the aim of spreading awareness about how to care for health.