Pune: Understanding lack of medical access in remote villages of Maharashtra, a mobile medical van was inaugurated last month by KEM Hospital Research Centre in collaboration with Light of Life Trust and funded by Serum Institute of India, which will be visiting tribal villages to offer free preliminary medical treatment. 

The van will cover 36 villages of Khed, Junnar and Ambegaon, which began from September 21 in rotation of 15 days. 

During the inaugural function, KEM Hospital Research Centre Director Laila Garde said, “The mobile medical van is to give preliminary treatment to tribals of Khed, Junnar and Ambegaon villages. The treatment and medicines will be given for free. If any patient is not cured by the preliminary treatment, they will be referred to the district hospital. Meera Paigude, who is a social worker and Smita Naga, who is a field advisor, will be in the van along with doctors and the trips will be rotational. The van has all the preliminary medical treatment facilities. The gram panchayat will be informed beforehand of the visit.” 

“We are focusing on training locals of these villages regarding basic healthcare. We will also be counselling the villagers on long-term family planning methods,” Garde added.