Hospital on Wheels to be in Orissa for the 6th Time

Extending better healthcare facilities to the people living in rural and inaccessible areas, Tata Steel would be hosting Lifeline Express, world's first hospital on-wheels for the sixth time in Orissa at Jajpur Road Railway Station from 14th December 2010 to 15th January 2011.

Life Line Express, the world's first Hospital on Rails is a joint collaboration between Impact India Foundation, Rajiv Gandhi Foundation and Indian Railways.

People living in the farthest corner of Jajpur district, parts of Bhadrak and Kendrapara districts are likely to be benefited from this initiative. Prior to this, Tata Steel has already hosted Lifeline Express in five locations of Orissa namely at Gopalpur, Bamanipal, Jajpur Road, Meramundali and Joda.

This will be the sixteenth time that Tata Steel would host this unique train for reaching out to the rural populace. Tata Steel, with its continued commitment towards social cause, has been a prime collaborator with the Impact India Foundation for the Lifeline Express.

Lifeline Express, one of the major innovations in the history of Indian medical history is equipped with a modern operation theatre, which offers diagnostic, medical and surgical treatment for prevention and curative interventions for the handicapped.

The initiative would help in restoration of the movement to polio and orthopedically impaired persons through surgery and provision of calipers, restoration of eye sight through cataract operations and providing Intra Ocular Lenses, restoration of hearing through surgery and supply of hearing aids, correction of Clefts through surgery, counseling and referral services and follow-up of patient' progress through arrangements with local authorities.

Tata Steel's long standing bond with Impact India started on 27th August 1991 and for the first time Tata Steel hosted Lifeline Express at Chainpur near its West Bokaro Colliery located in the state of Bihar (now in Jharkhand).

It is the only corporate house in the country to sponsor Lifeline Express for the highest number of times across the states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, West Bengal, and Chhattisgarh. Till date, through Lifeline Express, Tata Steel has reached out to more than 67,800 persons offering them medical treatment.

Extending better healthcare services to the people in its periphery rural areas has always been a priority in Tata Steel's periphery development and CSR plan.To achieve 'Healthcare for the villages', it has taken a number of initiatives like that of setting up of Hospitals in rural interiors, introduction of mobile health care units, health camps among others.

Tata Steel's health care services has been reaching out annually to 4 lakh population in the interior villages of Orissa through five hospitals and mobile health clinics apart from constructing 2 Community Health Centers and 2 ICUs in the state. Tata Steel has recently completed the first phase construction of a 200 bedded Hospital in Gobarghati, which is expected to cater to 10,000 villagers in Kalinganagar locality.

Lifeline express was launched on 16th July 1991 by Impact India Foundation with a noble mission that people should not, through neglect or ignorance, become disabled or crippled. Since the disabled persons are deprived of health, productivity and joy, they should have access to medical services wherever they be.