NewKerala.com (18 March 2010)
Smile Foundation, a non-government organisation, today launched its second mobile health care van, Smile on Wheels, for Delhi and the National Capital Region to provide health care services at the doorsteps of the under-privileged sections.
The project, supported by Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) and Gulf For Good, a Dubai-based organisation, aims to serve approximately 1.5 lakh people living in urban and rural slums in East Delhi and Noida.
Smile Foundation Director (Operations) Harish Nandan Sahay, speaking on the occasion, said, ”the concept of public-private partnership has really helped in facilitating the health care services to the doorsteps of the under-privileged communities.” Referring to the high mortality rate in India, Dr Sanjeev Bagai, CEO of Batra Hospital and Medical Research Centre, said, ”the initiative of Smile Foundation will bridge the gap and help in facilitating affordable, accessible and accurate health care services to all sections of society.” Dr Neelam Gupta, President of AROH Foundation, the implementing partner in the project, asserted, ”The health van would enable prevention, diagnosis as well as treatment services and the impact of this programme will be visible in the lives of more than 10 lakh people through this programme.” The first mobile van was launched in 2008 and is still operational in South Delhi area, Gurgaon and Faridabad.