Healthcare delivery in border and deprived areas govt’s top priority: CM

Lucknow: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday said healthcare delivery in border and deprived areas was accorded top priority by the state govt underlining Uttar Pradesh's focus on strengthening medical outreach in remote regions.He was speaking at the 6th edition of the Shri Guru Gorakhnath Health Seva Yatra, a large-scale healthcare initiative being conducted across India-Nepal border districts.
In a video message released on social media, Yogi said the health service yatra was dedicated to public welfare and people's service, and was spreading awareness, healthcare and social consciousness in border areas. Drawing inspiration from Mahayogi Guru Gorakhnath, the CM said the yatra carried forward the message of "sab ka kalyan, sab ka utthan". The 3-day campaign, organised by the National Medicos Organisation (NMO) in collaboration with Shri Guru Gorakhnath Seva Nyas and other social bodies, is being held in 7 India-Nepal border districts — Siddharthnagar, Maharajganj, Balrampur, Shravasti, Bahraich, Lakhimpur Kheri and Pilibhit. The initiative focuses on providing free medical consultations, medicines, diagnostic services and health awareness in remote, tribal-dominated villages, particularly those inhabited by the Tharu and Vanvasi communities. Officials said over 1,000 doctors are participating in the drive, which aims to reach over 3 lakh people. On the 1st day alone, over 70,000 residents received healthcare services. Yogi said the state govt, under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was working on a comprehensive healthcare approach that extended beyond treatment to prevention, awareness and infrastructure development. He highlighted the govt's efforts in controlling diseases such as encephalitis through vaccination drives, time-bound strategies and public participation. Emphasising inclusive development, he said the govt accorded revenue village status to Vanvasi settlements after 2017, ensuring access to basic facilities and integrating them into the mainstream development process. NMO Awadh province general secretary Dr Shivam Mishra said health camps were organised in large numbers across the districts, with doctors providing free check-ups, medicines and counselling on nutrition, menstrual hygiene and preventive healthcare. The health seva yatra will culminate in mega health fairs in each district on Feb 8.