Govt to hold health camps for tribals this month-end

MYSORE: A special health camp, under Vajpayee Health Scheme, will be organized for tribals living in HD Kote and Periyapatna taluks during July-end.
DC S Palaiah has directed health officials, tahsildars, executive officers to ensure that maximum number of tribals is benefitted at the camp. During a preparatory meet at the DC's office to discuss strategies, the latter asked the officers to hold taluk-level meetings to create awareness on the camp.
Accordingly, the officials have been asked to carry out door-to-door survey in haadis (hamlets) in the district to identity tribals who are in need of healthcare services. Those needing better medical care may be referred to certain designated super-specialty hospitals.
Zilla panchayat CEO P A Gopal said that he will make arrangements for food and transportation for tribals with the help of members of gram and taluk panchayats. Health camps will be conducted at Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement Hospital at Saragur in HD Kote taluk and Bylakuppe in Periyapatna taluk.
Speaking on the scheme, Suvarna Arogya Trust consultant Dr Jayaram said: "The scheme was first implemented in Gulbarga division in 2009. Later, it was extended to other revenue divisions of the state, including Mysore."
The hospitals in Mysore identified for treating the beneficiaries under the scheme are BGS Apollo Hospital, Bhanavi Hospital, Bharat Cancer Hospital, Cauvery Hospital, JSS Hospital, Narayana Hrudayala, Vikram Hospital. Super-specialty treatment for seven severe diseases, and covering 447 surgeries, will also be provided.
BPL families are eligible for free treatment costing up to Rs 1.50 lakh in a year, and five members of a family can avail the facility.
DHO Dr H T Puttaswamy said that it is for the first time that health camp is being organized under Vajpayee Arogya Scheme for tribals in Mysore. SC/ST people can also attend the camp, he added.
Dr M A Balasubramanyam of Vivekananda Youth Movement, Vajpayee Health Trust District manager Niranjan Prasad, divisional manager R Divakar, district social welfare officer Saraswathi, TDP officer Bharathi and district backward classes' department officer Javaregowda attended the meeting.