PGI’s outreach drive hit as roof of hi-tech van leaks

Sandeep Rana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 23 

PGI’s outreach programme has received a jolt as its sole mobile health van, which detects breast and cervix cancer by visiting residents at different places in Chandigarh, lies parked at the institute for quite some time due to leakage in its roof, which has affected onboard machines.

Due to rain, the hi-tech health van is not visiting spots even as the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGI) authorities maintain that the vehicle has been going for outreach programmes. “It has not been able to visit different parts of the city only for a few days as its roof is damaged,” they added.

Women keep waiting at spots where the vehicle used to go. There is no intimation whether it’s arriving or not. 

“The van used to be stationed in our sector near a gurdwara every Thursday, but for last two months, I have not seen it at the spot. One feels bad to see women standing there in anticipation for a check up,” said an elderly citizen of Sector 38.

“Once we were undergoing tests and the roof of the van started leaking. Water began to fall on the DEXA machine. Other two tests could not be done as the other two machines were not working,” said a local woman. 

“The vehilce has been donated to the PGI. The hospital staff and doctors operate it for research purpose. Our funds are exhausted. We are making effort to arrange funds from an NGO. The van has not stopped going to outreach programmes. Only its operation has been affected due to rain,” said Manju Wadwalkar, the PGI’s official spokesperson.

“If a van has been donated to the PGI, it is institutes responsibility to maintain it. Why have the authorities failed to maintain the vehicle or arrange funds for it for so long?,” quipped a faculty member of the PGI.  

Officials said Rs 6 lakh was the estimated cost for the maintenance of the van. “In the last few years, several philanthropists have helped it survive and run. However, it still remains short of funds,” they added.