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Access to healthcare varies greatly across India and marginalised populations continue to have limited access to these services. A 2016 report compiled by PwC India and Save the Children titled "Forgotten voices - The world of urban children in India" states that as per Census 2011, there are 13.7 million households in India that live in slum conditions with inadequate basic amenities, poor health outcomes, insecurity and unstable incomes. The report also highlights the issues faced by the children living in urban India with respect to healthcare. For many urban children, access to basic services such as clean water, toilets and decent education is a daily struggle. Lack of legal identity forces them to stay out of schools and deprives them of basic facilities such as health centres and proper nutrition.
Drawing from the findings of this report, PwCIF decided to intervene in the area of healthcare, catering especially to urban children. PwCIF and NGO BUDS launched a mobile healthcare van, which served 2 urban slums of Delhi and the villages of Mewat in Haryana. BUDS continues its services in the communities of Delhi and has now expanded its outreach from 2 to 5 urban slums of the National Capital Region (NCR).
The mobile van operates on three principles: to prevent disease, prompt treatment and promote health. It has state-of-the-art facilities aimed at improving the health status of vulnerable people residing and working near the intervention areas.
Initially the idea of the medical van was to serve children and hence there was a paediatrician on board. However, since the mothers would almost inevitably accompany the children, the van started catering to them as well. Today, the van covers needy individuals of all age groups, but improving child health and welfare remains the main focus of the programme.
The van and the program is managed by a team of five members (programme coordinator, community outreach/ mobilisation coordinator – who himself grew up on the streets of Delhi, a counsellor – a female whose presence provides an element of comfort to the female patients, a paramedic – a male who manages the stock of medicines and records patients, and the van driver). On different days of the week and as per the roster, general physicians, paediatricians and gynaecologists are present in the van.
Most of the residents in these communities belong to vulnerable and marginalised groups. The majority are either illiterate or have very low literacy levels. Many are migrants and unskilled persons and engaged as daily wage labourers, vendors or rickshaw pullers. Their ability to afford healthcare is extremely limited and they can’t afford to take their children to local government hospitals. Since taking to the road in 2017, the mobile van has treated over 32501 people. With ongoing support from the PwC India Foundation and other contributors the mobile van will continue to treat India’s urban poor who require assistance for general ailments, counselling services and health advice.
The project focused on adolescent girls in the intervention area spreading awareness on Anaemia and menstrual hygiene. The van utilised audio-visual tools, featuring a large screen for educational films on family planning, oral and dental care, and communicable diseases. The clinic further connected patients with social services and healthcare systems through referrals, fostering a comprehensive approach to health promotion, disease prevention, and treatment.
The PwC India Foundation was established in 2008 with the objective of making an impact in the areas of education and environmental sustainability, and expanded to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), social entrepreneurship and issues of urban children. Humanitarian response in times of disaster is embedded in the core objectives of the Foundation.