Mayurbhanj: Ambulance is an emergency health service. The government is prioritizing ambulance services to provide critical care to patients in remote areas. In the Mayurbhanj district, the ‘Bike Ambulance’ service has been a blessing for people in areas with geographical constraints.
The tribal and rural areas of Mayurbhanj district have various geographical constraints, making it challenging to reach emergency healthcare services to people’s doorstep. However, the arrival of bike ambulance service has helped overcome geographical barriers ensuring medical services reach the most remote communities. Without exaggeration, it won’t be wrong to say that it has saved the golden hour in case of ferrying victims of trauma to the nearest medical facility.
Supported by the Odisha Mineral Bearing Areas Development Corporation (OMBADC) under the state government, the Bike Ambulance service, launched in 2021, is currently active in Rairangpur, Jashipur, Kusumi, and Bijatla blocks.
The Bike Ambulance service, launched in 2021 and supported by the Odisha Mineral Bearing Areas Development Corporation (OMBADC) under the state government, is currently operational in four blocks such as Rairangpur, Jashipur, Kusumi, and Bijatla. This initiative has been a game-changer for the region, providing vital emergency healthcare services to areas that were previously hard to reach.
Saunru Marndi, a resident of Sanajharana village under Bijatala block, said, “A few months back my grandmother became sick. We rushed her to a nearby hospital on time and provided her with timely treatment thanks to the Bike Ambulance service. As we reside in a hilly area, it becomes difficult for ambulances to reach these regions and cater for service. Bike ambulance service has indeed made our life easier.”
The Bike Ambulance service has been operational in the Mayurbhanj district since 2021. Mainly in areas where four-wheeler ambulances face difficulties in reaching, the bike ambulance provides emergency services to people. As of March 2024, more than 5,000 patients have benefited from this service. Among them, senior citizens, pregnant women, children, and victims of road accidents who are critically injured have been particularly advantaged.
According to sources, the bike ambulances are connected to the nearest Community Health Centers, with a driver deployed for each vehicle. If someone in a nearby village has an emergency health issue, local Asha workers call the bike ambulance. The patient is quickly transported to the hospital, provided with necessary treatment, and then brought back home by the bike ambulance.
“Many villages in the Mayurbhanj district are located in remote areas, making it difficult for large ambulances to reach. Therefore, the bike ambulance service provided with the help of OMBADC has been very helpful for us. We are grateful to the government for coming up with such an initiative,” said Meena Mahant, an Asha worker from Sanjhari village.
In the Mayurbhanj district, OMBADC’s support has enabled the operation of Advanced Life Support (ALS) and Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulance services. These ambulances are equipped with state-of-the-art facilities. In emergencies, patients are being transported from local hospitals to the district headquarters or outside the district for advanced treatment. It would not be wrong to say that the bike ambulance service has strengthened the emergency health services in the district.
