A dose of good news for patients as Kerala health centre offers free e-auto rides

The Noolpuzha family health centre will offer elderly patients and pregnant women free e-auto rides from and to the bus stand from November 1. 

When Dr Dahar Mohammad, the medical officer in charge of Noolpuzha family health centre in Wayanad, proposed the idea of an e-auto for patients, it was the coming of age of an idea pending since long. The Noolpuzha Panchayat soon set aside Rs 2 lakh for an electric auto to serve patients at the health centre, an initiative to help with first and last-mile connectivity.

“We have a lot of patients who are over 60-plus years coming to the non-communicable diseases (NCD) wing of our clinic. I’ve seen them struggle to walk back to the bus stand and I decided that we needed to offer them an easier commute,” said Dahar to The News Minute.

On a full charge, the auto will have a range of 85 km; it can also be used as an ambulance during an emergency, said the Manorama English. The administration said since the auto was eco-friendly, it would reduce recurring expenses.

The health centre, located in Sultan Batheri area, is gearing up for a big launch on November 1, which is Kerala Piravi - a day that marks the birth of the state.

Dahar added, “We will be offering free rides to and from the health centre to the bus stand. The offer is for elderly patients, pregnant women, and young mothers. This way, they can get down at the nearest bus stand and take a bus home.”

With air-conditioned, clean rooms and good facilities, the Noolpuzha Family Health Centre has been recognised as one of the best health centres in India. It also received a national quality assurance certification recently.

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