'Ama Surakhya Ama Hatare' initiative for ambulance employees

Bhubaneswar, Jan 27: As government is celebrating Road Safety Month, Ziqitza Health Care Limited, the operating agency for 108 and 102 ambulance service in the state has started an initiative ‘Ama Surakhya Ama hatare’. The main objective of this initiative is to reduce the ambulance accident occurred at different time and to give priority for safe driving of vehicles. In this occasion an event was organised at Bhubaneswar where 108 Ambulance drivers of peripheral areas were attended and drivers from across Odisha also joined virtually. Apart from that, all drivers have taken oath for safe driving. During the occasion Sabyasachi Biswal, Head-Odisha, Ziqitza Health Care Limited said that, “As per different parameters of safe ambulance driving like accidental timing, response time etc, we are giving awards to drivers. For each parameter drivers were provided with points. For twelve hours accident free driving they can earn point and any deviation in this will eventually reduce down their points. Driver with highest point will be rewarded with prize and certificate. Safer ambulance driving is the moto of this initiative.” Currently, Ziqitza Healthcare Limited operating 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 ambulance service and 29 lakh pregnant women and children used 102 ambulance services during last 7 years. Similarly, six numbers of 108 boat ambulance services are also provided in cut-off areas of the state. 108 Ambulance service has been operating from state of the art facility in Bhubaneswar.