Pune: The much-needed healthcare services for the remote villages around Bhatghar dam have resumed for the new season with the launch of the floating clinic, which has served the region for over two decades.
This unique healthcare initiative, now in its 24th year, was inaugurated by Bhor Panchayat Samiti’s Group Development Officer, Kirankumar Dhanawade, on Saturday.
Dhanawade, along with a team of health officials, inspected the floating clinic at Bhutonde village and officially marked the start of the service. Accompanying him were Taluka Health Officer Dr. Jaydeepkumar Kapsekar, boat operator Rajendra Kank, and village development officer Ranjit Nanavare, among others.
The floating clinic provides essential medical care to 13 villages situated in the Bhatghar dam area, where access to healthcare has long been a challenge due to the region’s difficult terrain.
To ensure consistent healthcare availability, the floating clinic will operate twice a week, with scheduled services every Wednesday and Friday.
On Wednesdays, the clinic will serve the villages of Bope Kamble, Waghmachi Ghumat, Sangvi, and Dere Bhutonde, while on Fridays, healthcare services will reach the villages of Guhini, Khulshi, Chandvane, Dere, Bhandarvali, Male, Sutarwadi, and Nanavale.
This initiative is a lifeline for the local population, especially for the elderly, children, and women, who otherwise face significant hardships in reaching medical facilities. The floating clinic significantly reduces the time, cost, and physical burden of traveling long distances for basic healthcare.
Dr. Jaydeepkumar Kapsekar, Taluka Medical Officer, remarked, “This floating clinic has been a blessing for the local residents, as it has dramatically reduced the struggle for medical treatment. It ensures that the vulnerable, including the elderly and children, no longer have to endure difficult journeys for healthcare.”
The floating clinic, which covers villages situated 60 kilometers from Bhor town, remains a vital part of the region’s healthcare infrastructure, ensuring that medical services are accessible even in the most remote corners.