Two-wheeler mobile labs for blood test launched

Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 12 (UNI) With just a phone call, a mobile medical laboratory with all equipment is at your doorstep -- no need to wait for taxi or depend on others for routine blood tests like blood glucose, blood pressure, cholesterol and BMI.

''Saanthwanam,'' a novel project by the Health Action by People (HAP), a voluntary health organisation in the capital city, has heralded a new revolution in the medical field, by not only providing common blood tests at an affordable price to the common man, but also opening new avenues for the unemployed girls, particularly from BPL families.

''It is not just a service but an education programme to make the people aware about fighting life-style diseases like diabetes, hypertension, obesity and coronary heart ailments affecting a major portion of the state's population,'' Dr C R Soman, who heads the HAP, told UNI.

The idea was conceived following a recent survey which indicated that on an average ten per cent of the adult population suffered from diabetes, 30 per cent from hypertension and 35 per cent from over weight.

Dr Soman said he started the project first in Thiruvanthapuram in the middle of 2005 with some kiosks. However, it proved to be a failure, as the beneficiaries could not afford the initial investment to start the units. The project was re-launched now by introducing mobile units on two-wheelers.

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