Rural Electrification Corporation Limited (REC) has entered into an agreement with Smile Foundation for rendering primary health services to underprivileged rural population in two districts of Uttar Pradesh (Rae Bareilly) and Madhya Pradesh (Ashok Nagar).
According to the MOU, signed in the presence Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Power, Mr. Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, on February 7, 2013, Smile Foundation will operate its innovative mobile health programme, Smile on Wheels in Harchandpur block of Rae Bareilly and Chanderi block of Ashok Nagar district for a period of three years.
On the occasion, Mr. Scindia extended his best wishes for the success of the programme and congratulated REC and Smile Foundation for undertaking this important initiative for the benefit of rural poor.
Under the agreement, two mobile medical units will be pressed into service in the targeted locations to provide primary health services to underprivileged communities at their doorstep, along with services for reproductive and child health, developing linkages with nearby government/private health centres for specialty treatment, and facilitating behaviour change towards seeking quality healthcare.
Deliberating on the importance of this partnership, Mr Rajeev Sharma, CMD, REC, said, “We understand our social responsibility as an organisation and always look for correct partners to work towards this. Smile Foundation has been doing great work for national development and REC is happy to associate with them to promote primary healthcare services in the villages of Rae Bareilly and Ashok Nagar. REC is sure of a fruitful association with Smile Foundation.”
Expressing his views on this partnership, Chief Operating Officer, Smile Foundation, Mr. Vikram Singh Verma said, “Smile’s partnership with REC will strengthen Smile Foundation’s efforts to extend quality healthcare services to the underprivileged population.” The project is expected to benefit approximately 60,000 people from the underprivileged communities, especially SC, ST, OBC and the minority groups, particularly women and children.
Smile on Wheels is a multi-centric programme providing a comprehensive range of free healthcare services to underprivileged communities in remote rural areas and urban slums through an equipped mobile medical unit. Currently there are 22 Smile on Wheels mobile medical units operational in 13 states of India. Since its inception in 2006, Smile on Wheels has directly benefitted more than 500,000 people.