Mobile Healthcare for Ahmedabad Slums                        

Services Offered

Smile on Wheels mobile hospital will provide OPD- curative services for common ailments, ante and postnatal services, provision to identify high risk pregnancies, immunization (Mother and Child), Minor surgery/ dressing of wounds, basic pathological services (Blood, Urine), referral services for serious patients requiring hospitalization, distribution of condoms, oral contraceptive pills, insertion of IUD, treatment of malnutrition cases, free distribution of iron, folic acid and vitamin A tablets to women and children in need.

The mobile hospital is fully air-conditioned equipped with an examination table, ECG, X-Ray machines, a dark room for X-Ray, Calorimeter, first aid kit, IV fluid transmission hook,  Nebulizer, Centrifuge for pathological tests, Oxygen cylinders, Stretcher, Autoclaves, chiller cum refrigerator, generator, and public address systems.

A competent team of doctors and para-medical staff accompany each Smile on Wheels mobile hospital.

About the Implementing Partner

MARAG was set up in 1994 as a voluntary organization working for the education, organization and empowerment of the marginalized communities particularly the Maldharis. MARAG believes in the inherent strength of the people to bring about the social change for the development and betterment of their own lives and society at large. MARAG’s philosophy is to protect the rights of the marginalized by enhancing their life skills and enabling to restore their livelihoods for a sustainable future.

About Ahmedabad Smile on Wheels
The mobile hospital was launched on March 28, 2009 by Dr M.M. Prabhakar, Director Paraplegia Hospital and Professor and Head of Orthopaedic Department, B.J. Medical Collage Ahmedabad. Smile on Wheels in Ahmedabad will be operational for 24 days a month and is likely to cover many villages in the area. 

The city is the seventh largest mega city in India with a population of more then 3.5 million consisting of 1.5 million people living in slums and slum-like conditions. This becomes one of the reasons to select Ahmedabad for operating Smile on Wheels mobile hospital.

The unique mobile hospital has a team of specialised doctors, nurses and other medical staff along with all possibly required medicines from distinguished laboratories to be distributed to the diseased. The patients are charged either nothing or minimal amount for the treatment, prescription etc at Smile on Wheels. 

With a special focus on women and child health, Smile on Wheels also aims to spread awareness and knowledge about preventive measures and health and hygiene education than only helping slum communities by curing and treating their diseases. In the process the goal is to make the people realise the importance of sound health and drive them to their nearest health centres on an immediate basis when a need is felt.