Emergency health-care service launched at Sabarimala
Minister for Health and Devaswom V.S. Sivakumar on Monday launched an emergency healthcare scheme at Sabarimala to check the rising cardiac casualty rate on the traditional trekking path leading to the holy hillock.
As many as 23 cardiac casualties had been witnessed at Sabarimala in the past 29 days, and the emergency healthcare scheme would be of great help to the pilgrims ascending the steep Neelimala and Appachimedu hills and on Swami Ayyappan Road, he said.
Mr. Sivakumar said mobile medical units (‘Jumpkit’ volunteers) carrying emergency medicines, portable oxygen cylinder, glucometer, and an automatic electronic defibrillator (AED) had been deployed at various points on the Pampa-Neelimala-Appachimedu-Marakkootom stretch, and on Swami Ayyappan Road.
He said a healthcare centre had been opened at Charalmedu on Swami Ayyappan Road for the pilgrims. He said the Jumpkit volunteers had been provided with mobile phones so that they could consult the doctor posted at Charalmedu, and provide first aid to the pilgrims on the spot.
He said the proposed projects included a Rs.25-crore sewage treatment plant at Sabarimala Sannidhanam.
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