Chandigarh administration will involve NSS volunteers in the service of patients and their attendants in PGI
Himachal This Week
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.