On: 13 DEC 2023 – The Vikasit Bharat Sankalp Yatra launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 15, 2023, has become a robust forum to promote health initiatives to benefit people at the grassroots. As IEC vans carry with them the message of development, they are also accompanied by health camps being organized in the Gram Panchayats. Free health check-ups, and tests for Tuberculosis, Hypertension, Diabetes, etc form part of these camps.
To date, more than 63 lakh people have availed benefits of health camps. During the Yatra, more than 26,752 Gram Panchayats have achieved 100% saturation of Ayushman Cards (as of December 12, 2023).
The following activities are being undertaken as part of the VBSY Healthy India initiative –
Registration for AB-PMJAY cards: Under the government’s flagship healthcare scheme, Ayushman cards are being created using the Ayushman app and physical cards are being distributed to the beneficiaries. Till December 12, 2023, over 9.69 lakh Ayushman Cards have been issued at the VBSY camps. More than 1.53 lakh people have availed of the services at the Ayushman Card Camps.
TB Screening: The attendees at the VBSY halting points are also being screened for Tuberculosis. People who are suspected to have TB are referred to higher medical facilities. To date, 26.41 lakh people have been screened for TB at the VBSY camps.
Other aid is also being provided to TB patients, under Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (PMTBMA), and consent is being taken for TB patients to receive assistance from Nikshay Mitras. A heartening sight has been the enthusiasm of the attendees who are willing to volunteer as Nikshay Mitras to help TB patients. They are being facilitated by providing them with on-the-spot registrations. Another government initiative assisting TB patients is the Nikshay Poshan Yojna (NPY), under which financial help is given to the people through Direct Benefit Transfer.
Screening for Sickle Cell Disease (SCD): Attendees can also get themselves checked for Sickle Cell Disease at the VBSY health camps. As the disease predominantly affects the tribal population, the screening is being done in areas with a notable tribal population. The eligible people (i.e., people up to 40 years of age) are getting tested through the Point of Care (PoC) tests for SCD or through the Solubility Test. As of date, 6.12 lakh attendees at the VBSY halting points have been screened for SCD.
Screening for Non-Communicable Diseases: People can also get checked for other silent killers like Hypertension and Diabetes. Attendees aged 30 years and above can get checked for Hypertension and Diabetes, and are then referred to higher medical centers for effective management if found to be positive.
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