Odisha
In order to help patients and pregnant women from inaccessible areas reach their nearest hospital or motorable road, the healthcare programme ‘Amo Doli Programme’ has been launched by the State Government of Odisha in naxal-affected area Rayagada District. Under this programme, a stretcher has been designed as a sling to carry patients smoothly and with less effort. It will replace the traditional method of shifting patients in remote areas by converting a bed into a sling by tying rope to its both ends. Each sling costs around Rs. 9000 and the programme is being funded under the Integrated Action Plan (IAP) which is meant for Maoist-affected districts. The benefits of this programme are as follows: a) It will help the patients and pregnant women from inaccessible areas to reach their nearest hospital or motorable road. B) After reaching the nearest motorable point, the villagers can call ambulance by dialling 102 for pregnant women or 108 for emergency services to shift a patient to the nearest hospital. The slings will be kept either at village welfare committees or with ASHA workers.