An Initiative Worth Following

Chandigarh administration will involve NSS volunteers in the service of patients and their attendants in PGI

Himachal This Week

If the vision of Ajit Balaji Joshi, Deputy Commissioner, Chandigarh, turns into reality, not only the year 2018-19 shall be another year with vibrant NSS activities but also it will represent the social face of the Chandigarh Administration. It also reflects Chandigarh administration endeavour how it has been feeling the pulse of patients and their attendants who come to PGI far from areas for treatment and go through ordeal. Chandigarh NSS Cell and Red Cross Society are joining hands to spruce up the PGI Hospital here to enable the thousands of patients and their attendants visiting it every day to provide guidance and take ‘in need’ to proper department and assisting them in completing treatment process.

The deputy commissioner admitted of involving NSS volunteers in the service of patients and their attendants in PGI. It will bring greater relevance into NSS activities and patients guidance, he says. Since there is a need to sustain this activity, the deputy commissioner, Chandigarh, who is also the chairman of Chandigarh Red Cross Society sought the support of NSS volunteers so that they will be deputed in PGI. The official in the Deputy Commissioner’s office confirmed the project and revealed that it was all set to launch on March 8 next.

Bikram Rana, State Liaison Officer, NSS Cell, Chandigarh while talking to Himachal This Week admitted that such an initiative was in the pipeline. He further said that since the initiative needed permanent deployment of volunteers to guide and take the patients to respective destination especially in emergency and OPD in the PGI. Besides, they will provide guidance service for out-door patients and tell them about hospital’s procedures. They will also help illiterate patients or their attendants writing and reading and assist follow up of patents discharged from the hospital.

He further revealed that institutions have been asked to send names of volunteers. In the beginning around 120 volunteers would be selected and trained in assistance with the Chandigarh Red Society. The society will prepare a roaster of volunteers. Schedule of work has been divided into three shifts—each shift will be of five hours. Group of five volunteers will be deputed at the PGI from 7 a.m to 12 noon; 12 noon to 5 p.m and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Trained volunteers will be issued identity cards and a space which will be provided at the PGI that will work as a help desk. Rana said that though the volunteers would be deputed at PGI on an experiment basis a little later, they would be deputed in other hospitals of Chandigarh.

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