Guwahati: 83 Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulances were ceremonially waved off by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday at a ceremony held at the Janata Bhawan in Guwahati.
The Mrityunjoy 108 services flagged off the ambulances.
Assam health minister Keshab Mahanta was also present at the occasion.
Speaking at the occasion, CM Sarma said that the Mrityunjoy 108 service was launched in 2008 with the intention of serving the needs of the populace.
He said, “We started the 108-ambulance service in 2008. Till now, a total of 800 ambulances have been providing the service to people of Assam. Moreover around 19 lakh pregnant women have availed 108 facilities till date.”
Sarma added, “These ambulances would benefit patients in Assam’s rural and urban areas and help lower the state’s rates of maternal and newborn mortality.”
“The addition of 150 more ambulances will strengthen this service even more. Adopting localised solutions for strengthening facilities is crucial to enhancing vital health metrics like lowering IMR or MMR, Sarma added.