CSR

GE Healthcare Joins Hands with TN Govt to Upgrade PHC

The initiative aims to advance availability and use of critical medical technologies and support primary healthcare delivery

In an effort to provide that community with better access to affordable healthcare, GE Healthcare and a group of its Asian American employees have adopted the Banavaram Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Tamil Nadu (TN). Together, GE Healthcare and GE's company-wide Asian-Pacific American Forum (APAF) are contributing approximately Rs 45 lakh for a two-year programme that will include creating a medica technology infrastructure at the clinic and training its employees in its use. GE Healthcare will upgrade the PHC by installing the latest obstetric and other medical technologies to facilitate institutional deliveries of babies and provide advanced care to mothers and babies. These include a fetal monitor, a vital sign monitor, lullaby baby warmer, phototherapy system, pulse oximeter, bassinets, ECG, ultrasound system, needle destroyer, oxygen cylinder, flow meter, suction apparatus and an inverter. At the end of the programme, all equipment will be donated to the PHC.

APAF is an organistion of more than 4,000 GE employees who have come to the US from countries throughout Asia and the Pacific Islands and are working to improve the quality of life in their regions, particularly developing countries. "We hope to set an example for other states to follow. The same model could be used to develop the existing infrastructure capabilities and hence work towards the millennium development goals," said Thiru V K Subburaj, Principal Health Secretary, Government of TN Health Department.

EH News Bureau