SAIL assists needy patients with help on wheels

A fully-equipped ambulance purchased by NGO Turning Point Foundation with financial assistance of Rs. 240,000 from Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) for transportation of patients to and from hospitals/ homes/health capms and carrying out other social welfare activities, was flagged off by SAIL Director Personnel Mr. B.B. Singh from Ispat Bhavan here today. SAIL has earlier provided mobile medical units/ambulances to NGOs such as Deepalaya, Anygraha, Drishtidaan, HelpAge India, etc., as part of its well-defined Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy with the motto of ‘making a meaningful difference in people’s lives’.

Since inception, SAIL has pioneered the cause of providing health facilities to all sections of society. The company has established 54 primary health centres, 12 reproductive & child health centres, 17 hospitals and 7 super-specialty hospitals to provide specialised healthcare to over 30 million people living in the peripheral areas of its plants and units.

To create health awareness to people residing in remote villages of the country, SAIL has been organising strategically-planned health camps in and around its plants/units. Villagers are sensitised on various health issues, and people detected with major ailments are referred to the multi-speciality SAIL hospitals. SAIL bears the entire cost of the patients’ and attendants’ travel, stay and treatment. In 2009-10, more than 3,850 camps were organised, benefitting over 2.32 lakh people by providing free health check-up, path lab treatment, medicines and immunisation.

In recognition of its CSR initiatives, SAIL has received numerous awards, including the Wockhardt Shining Star CSR award, prestigious FICCI Award for Rural and Community Development Initiatives, Businessworld-FICCI-SEDF CSR Award, etc.