Medical Check-Up on ‘Lifeline Express’ Hospital Train
Get Free Medical Check-Up and surgeries for patients suffering from cataract, cleft lips, problems related to orthopedic, ear, dental, fits etc. 32 Well-known surgeons will conduct health examinations and surgery on ‘Lifeline Express’ Hospital Train stationed at Bhatkal Railway Station from 1 August 1 to 21 August 2016.
Mangaluru: Choo..choo…choo..the Hospital Train named ‘Lifeline Express” has arrived and is stationed at Bhatkal Railway Station in Uttara Kannada district from August 1 to August 21. Celebrating its silver jubilee year of foundation, the mobile medical clinic, Lifeline Express will provide medical check-up and surgeries for patients suffering from cataract, cleft lips, problems related to orthopedic, ear, dental, fits etc. 32 well-known surgeons aboard the train will conduct health examinations and surgery in the train itself. Konkan Railway. This is a collaborative effort of Impact India Foundation, Union Ministry of Health and Indian Railways, to offer on-the-spot diagnostic, medical and advanced surgical treatment for people in inaccessible rural areas. The Konkan Railway hosts this mobile hospital in association with the Central Railway.
Speaking to Team Mangalorean, Dr Vaibhav Dhadkar-Deputy Chief Executive, Lifeline Express (Impact India Foundation) said, “It was a simple dream. All it wanted was that people should not, through neglect or ignorance, become disabled or crippled, and thus robbed of health, productivity and joy, and that disabled persons, especially in rural India, should have access to medical services wherever they are. On 16th of July, 1991, this dream came true, when Impact India’s Lifeline Express, the world’s first hospital on a train, was launched.”
“Until now over nine crore disabled poor in rural India have so far benefited from the remarkable train, and other countries have come forward to start their Lifeline Express on which major surgeries have been performed to restore movement, hearing, sight and correction of clefts with the help of the donated skills and services of over 90,000 surgeons, to make this dream possible. The internationally acclaimed Lifeline Express has become a model for transfer of appropriate technology to other countries to set up similar projects in China, Central Africa and river boat hospitals in Bangladesh and Cambodia. This year Lifeline Express celebrates 26 glorious years of serving India”, added Dr Vaibhav.
The Lifeline Express, also known as the Magic Train of India, celebrates 25 years of service to the poor and underprivileged masses of rural India, and for the past 25 years, with the vision of the founding fathers and the active partnership of the Indian Railways, as well as the help and goodwill of thousands of donors, well-wishers and medical persons from the world over, the Lifeline Express has made a true impact on the lives of the rural people of India. With the continued support of the Indian Railways, it serves as a pledge to continue to help make a difference to the lives of our people.
The Lifeline Express has the distinction of being the first ever hospital-on-rails in the world. Brightly coloured on the outside with rainbows and flowers, the hospital is equipped with state-of-the-art medical facilities and equipment to cater to the needs of the rural patients. So far, Lifeline Express has so far clocked over 90,000 km across the country and treated over one million disabled poor in rural areas treating and restoring sight, movement, hearing and correction of cleft lips with dental and neurological treatment free of cost.
The mission of Impact India Foundation is “To initiate, augment and intensify action against those causes of massively prevalent disablement for which there exists a potential for prevention and control, which can be delivered through existing delivery systems and available infrastructure. To treat millions of people who are disabled by curable blindness, deafness and physical handicaps and facial deformities”.
Thousands of people were lined up at Bhatkal General Hospital for a check-up, and if they needed further treatment or surgery, they would be directed to see the doctors on the Lifeline Express train.
For more information contact : Dr Vaibhav at 9421319609; Lifeline Express at 9820303974; Email : lifeline_express@yahoo.com