Vedanta conducts cancer screening, disability assistance camp in Kalahandi 

Lanjigarh: Vedanta Lanjigarh, India’s premier producer of metallurgical grade alumina and a part of Vedanta Aluminium, conducted a week-
long health camp for cancer screening and prevention awareness and disability assistance in remote regions of Kalahandi district in Odisha. The camp reached out to more than 600 residents from nearby communities. The week-long health campaign is a part of the company’s various
health programmes, that aims to mitigate various prevalent health maladies and facilitate free-of-cost and quality healthcare for the local communities. The company’s overall health initiatives reached out to 75,000 people in FY24.

The recently held health campaign encapsulated two major drives – a cancer prevention drive that was conducted in collaboration with Mahatma Gandhi Hospital & Research Institute, based in Visakhapatnam – a leading cancer hospital in the region. The drive aimed at promoting greater awareness on cancer prevention, timely detection, and care.  A screening camp was also organised as part of the campaign and included a diverse range of early detection facilities as well as free consultations with specialists.

Secondly, a disability assistance camp was also organised in collaboration with Jaipurfoot, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that works with people with locomotor disabilities by identifying and distributing customised prosthetic aids and appliances. The camp reached out to people with special needs from neighbouring communities, enabling them to lead a self-sufficient life. Vedanta Lanjigarh’s initiatives are focused enhancing the quality of life in the areas of its operations, closely aligned with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of Good Health & Well-being (SDG 3).

Speaking on the company’s health endeavours, Pranab Kumar Bhattacharyya, CEO -Alumina Business, Vedanta Ltd- said, “We firmly believe that access to quality healthcare is a catalyst for socio-economic progress. At Vedanta Lanjigarh, we are dedicated to making a positive impact on the well-being of the communities around us. Through targeted interventions in health, we strive to elevate the collective health standards in remote and underserved regions of the country, contributing to the holistic development of the region. Our commitment is rooted in the belief that a healthier community paves the way for a stronger and more prosperous future.”

Appreciating the initiative, Chancher Majhi, Sarpanch of Basantpada Gram Panchayat, said, “My heartfelt gratitude to Vedanta Lanjigarh for extending regular support to all the villages in vicinity by organising free health drives for the people with different needs. Such kinds of holistic interventions ensure a healthy community and Vedanta successfully fulfils its commitment towards the community’s development through such initiatives.”

Vedanta Lanjigarh has also been supporting the local communities through several additional healthcare initiatives, including:

• Vedanta Hospital: This hospital is a state-of-the-art medical facility, well equipped with experienced doctors, physiotherapists and visiting specialists, and 24X7 ambulance service for referrals. Over 60,000 people visit the Vedanta Hospital every year.
• Maa Santoshi Jankalyan Hospital: Supported by Vedanta Lanjigarh, it caters to the needs of 9 Gram Panchayats within the Bankakundru region. This area is situated in the remote fringes of Lanjigarh Block, making the hospital’s role all the more crucial.
• MHU (Mobile Health Unit): A customized vehicle that brings free primary healthcare services to people in under-served areas. Since its inception in 2006, it has delivered healthcare services to over 30,000 people across 64 villages.
• Cataract Camps: For more than a decade, Vedanta Lanjigarh has been organizing annual cataract camps in collaboration with the renowned eye hospital Netra Chikitsalaya Lepra Society, Sonepur. In FY24 alone, over 1200 people have benefitted from the project.
• Pehli Udaan: This initiative aims to promote better menstrual health and hygiene practices among rural women by helping them break cultural stigmas. It focuses on enhancing community access to quality menstrual hygiene products and has benefitted over 3000 women and adolescent girls in FY24.
• Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan: Supporting this initiative by the Government of India, Vedanta Hospital in Lanjigarh organizes a PMSMA (Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan) Program on the 9 th of every month, benefitting more than 500 people through comprehensive and quality antenatal care, free of cost, to pregnant women.
• Ni-kshay Mitra program: Aimed at supporting the Government of India’s ambitious ‘TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan’ (TB-Free India Campaign), the company has actively collaborated with the district administration to maximize community awareness on tuberculosis (TB), provide nutrition support, and extend support to those in need of specialized care.