Bhubaneswar, Mar 5: The 108 ambulance service in the state completed eight years of its uninterrupted emergency service to Odisha on Friday.

 The 108 ambulance service was launched on March 5, 2013 and since then has been able to serve more than 60 lakh persons from different parts of the state.

The emergency health service, connecting patients with health care institutions, had been successful to render its service in several urban, rural as well as inaccessible remote locations.

To mark the special day and celebrate the successful completion of eight years in state, Ziqitza Healthcare Ltd, that operates 108 ambulances in the state, donated tricycles to several differently-able and poor persons at an event held at Regional Spinal Injury Center in the SCB Medical College and Hospital premises, Cuttack.

Speaking on the occasion, Sabyasachi Biswal, State Head of Ziqitza Healthcare Ltd said, “We are happy to announce that we have completed eight successful years in providing the ambulance service to the people of the state. As part of our long association with the state we felt that if we can make a difference by providing tricycles to SCB Medical College and Hospital and help save and enrich more lives. Last one year was most challenging so far for us, because despite Covid-19 our crew members have shown exemplary resolve to transport patients without any hesitation. In the last eight years, we have evolved and committed to improve our service to be more people friendly.”

Currently, the operating agency hosts 596 numbers of 108 ambulances and 500 numbers of 102 ambulances in all 30 districts of Odisha for emergency services. Through 108 ambulance services, more than 32 lakh people have availed the ambulance service while 30 lakh pregnant women and children utilised the 102 ambulance services during the last seven years. Similarly, six of these 108 boat ambulance services are also dedicated to cut-off areas of the state. 108 Ambulance services have been operated from state of the art facilities in Bhubaneswar.