Mobile Medical Unit
Mobile Medical Units have been envisaged to provide preventive, promotive and curative health care in inaccessible areas and difficult terrains, which are underserved or unserved areas under usual circumstances. Factors that negatively influence the existing public health system and call for the exigency are :
- Distance of the remote villages from the Public Health Institution.
- Geographical barriers to reach the pockets.
- Lack of mobility support for field visit by the staff assigned to do the job.
- Lack of medicines / equipment/manpower.
- Lack of awareness & health consciousness in the community particularly among disadvantaged people, who are socio –economically backward.
Mobile Health Units have been functioning in Orissa under Long Term Action Plan in KBK Districts since 1995-96 which has been continuing under RLTAP. Each MHU is functioning either by a hired vehicle or by a Govt. vehicle. The team consists of Medical Officer, a pharmacist, one ANM an attendant and a driver, moves for at least 20 days a month to remote villages in the Block area as per a schedule prepared jointly by the BMO & Medical officer MMU.
Functional Mobile Medical Units not only look after the curative aspects but also render BCC activities to promote healthy Under the National Rural Health Mission, one Mobile Medical Unit has been provided for each of the 30 districts of the state. And this year efforts shall be made to make it operational and no units are proposed this year.
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