Vedanta's Hospital in Lanjigarh - a ray of hope to thousands

In 2006, Asian Institute of Sustainable Development (AISD) conducted a Baseline Study in which it made startling discoveries about the health condition in the Kalahandi district. As per the study findings:

Only 13% people had privilege to basic medical treatment.
IMR rate was 200 per thousand birth.
Child malnutrition and immunization were 58% and 35% respectively.
Malarial death was 80%.

If you ever Google the phrase ‘Kalahandi Syndrome’, you’ll come across a morbid picture of humanity. Kalahandi is often referred to as emblem of backwardness in prevalent media. The region is infamous for its recurring droughts and starvation deaths. The misery that stalks the people is known to everyone yet nothing much on the ground took off since independence.

However with industrialization, the scope for development has opened up in the district. These findings facilitated Vedanta, which has its alumina refinery in Lanjigarh, to design innovative health care projects. Vedanta started its intervention with Mobile Health Unit in 2006 and providing health services at the doorstep to the inaccessible. Outreach programs, as preventive & curative measure are designed and implemented in partnership with Government and NGO partner.

The biggest game changer came with the establishment of a 20 bed hospital to cater the health needs of both Kalahandi & Rayagada Districts in 2010. It entrusted the hospital management to a State level NGO - Nirmala Kruti Bikash Trust (NKBT). The community health program - ‘AAROGYA JEEVAN SUKHI JEEVAN’ has been designed to suit the geographical location, demography, socio economic status and culture of the existing communities. The target population are the residents of Lanjigarh block of Kalahandi District and residents of Muniguda and K. Singhpur Block of Rayagada District, living within a radius of 50 Km of the refinery with an approximate population of 2 Lac. The total expenses by Vedanta Limited on community health program is Rs. 1243.65 Lakh till date.

Vedanta Hospital

Vedanta Hospital laboratory is equipped with testing of Sickle cell anaemia. It is not available within 60 KM radius.
Vedanta hospital also has a robust bio medical waste management system authorised by State Pollution Control Board, Odisha (SPCB), under Bio Medical Waste (Management & Handling) Rule, 1998. The bio medical waste management system at hospital ensures proper handling, collection, reception, storage, transport, treatment and final disposal of biomedical waste.
The hospital is equipped with Ultrasound, X-Ray, Lab Investigation Facility, 24 hrs Emergency services, Ambulance service, Specialist consultation (13 full time doctors and visiting specialist consultations), indoor patient department, Minor-OT room and ECG.
The area is considered to have zero malarial death since 2012.
Immunization increased to 95% and no diarrhea outbreak since 2010.
Infant Mortality rate and Malnutrition reduced to 60 per thousand and 31% respectively.

(Sources: Impact Study Report by AISD, Government Health Dept.)

The lives of the people have evidently taken a turn for the better. The development of the region will further the impetus of the healthcare services and open up much needed access to economical and sustainable healthcare services.

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