CM Sukhu flags off 26 advanced ambulances

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today flagged off 26 new advanced life-support ambulances, adding to the existing fleet of 241 National Ambulance Service-108 (NSA) vehicles. He also launched the Tobacco Free Youth Campaign. Health and Family Welfare Minister Dhani Ram Shandil was also present on the occasion.

These ambulances are equipped with 19 life-saving healthcare equipment, including transport ventilators, ECG machines, emergency ambu bags, oxygen cylinders and blood pressure monitoring machines. Medical technicians for emergency medical care would be available 24X7 with these ambulances.

Sukhu said that these ambulances would be deployed at all government medical college and hospitals, district and civil hospitals and other remote locations for patients during emergencies. “The state government is striving to strengthen the health sector and world-class infrastructure is being created in health institutions. These new advanced life-support ambulances will improve healthcare services,” he added.

The Chief Minister congratulated the Health Department for the Tobacco-Free Youth Campaign and said, “Himachal Pradesh is a leading state in the field of public health in the country. This is a very important initiative of the state government to protect the youth from the ill-effects of tobacco, besides other psychotropic drugs. The campaign will run for 60 days till December 8 with special focus on creating awareness, prevention and strict enforcement of tobacco control laws.”

Sukhu said that the state government was committed to completely eliminating all forms of tobacco use, including e-cigarettes and hookah bars. “The police and flying squads will launch frequent campaigns to ensure compliance with the order on a complete ban on hookah bars and e-cigarettes,” he added.