Himachal CM Flags Off E-Scooters to Deliver Medical Aid to HIV, TB, Hepatitis Patients.
Shimla:
In a significant step towards strengthening healthcare outreach, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu flagged off a fleet of 12 electric scooters from his official residence, Oak Over, Shimla today. These e-scooters, provided to the Health Department through the State AIDS Control Society, will be deployed across eight districts to offer crucial doorstep services to patients suffering from HIV, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), Tuberculosis (TB), and Hepatitis.
The initiative, a first-of-its-kind in Himachal Pradesh, is aimed at enhancing healthcare access in remote areas by ensuring the delivery of medicines, conducting health screenings, and offering counselling services directly at the patients’ homes. By enabling continuity of treatment, it also supports the state’s goal of achieving viral load suppression among HIV patients, thereby allowing them to lead healthier and longer lives.
“This is a compassionate and forward-thinking outreach model,” said Chief Minister Sukhu during the flagging-off ceremony. “Making Himachal Pradesh HIV-free is our collective responsibility, and I am confident that these e-scooters will amplify our existing efforts. Over 6,000 individuals are currently living with HIV in the state, and most have achieved viral load suppression, which speaks volumes about the success of our healthcare policies.”
He further emphasized the dual benefits of the initiative—enhancing patient care and promoting sustainable transportation. “The State Government is committed to environmental conservation, and promoting electric vehicles is an important part of this strategy,” the Chief Minister added.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. (Col.) Dhani Ram Shandil also addressed the gathering and detailed the ongoing work of the State AIDS Control Society. He highlighted the role of 471 Red Ribbon Clubs operating in universities, colleges, and industrial training institutes, as well as the implementation of the Adolescent Education Programme in schools to raise awareness about HIV.
“The involvement of the Department of Youth Services and Sports and the Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan has further helped in reaching out to out-of-school youth with awareness campaigns,” Dr. Shandil noted.
The event was attended by several dignitaries including Deputy Speaker of the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha Vinay Kumar, Deputy Chief Whip Kewal Singh Pathania, MLAs Sanjay Awasthi, Harish Janartha, and Mohan Lal Brakta, along with Health Secretary M. Sudha Devi and Project Director of the AIDS Control Society Rajeev Kumar.
This new initiative marks a progressive step in bridging healthcare gaps in Himachal Pradesh, especially for vulnerable and marginalized communities, and sets an example for other states to emulate in combining health equity with eco-friendly solutions.
