Vedanta Lanjigarh’sweek-long health campaign bolsters community health in rural Odisha

Bhubaneswar : Vedanta Limited, Lanjigarh, India’s premier producer ofsmelter grade alumina and a unit of Vedanta Aluminium, conducted a comprehensive multi-specialty health camp and ablood donation drive in Kalahandi district, Odisha. The week-long event prioritised accessible healthcare services through multiple health camps and awareness drives in more than severalremote villages of Kalahandi and witnessednotableparticipation fromthe communities. The campaign culminated with a major multi-specialty health camp and blood donation drive atVedantaHospital, with an active participation of more than 350 community members.

Attendees had the opportunity to receive free health check-ups and one-to-one consultation with specialists in general medicine, paediatrics, gynaecology, ophthalmology, and dentistry providing preventive screenings and curative guidance. Moreover, the blood donation drive garnered tremendous support to alleviate thecritical shortage of transfusable blood in the region by collecting 32 units, which will safeguard the lives of many individuals in need.

The campaignclosely aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of ‘Good Health &Well-being (SDG 3) and ‘Forging Partnerships to Achieve Common Goals’ (SDG 17),thataims to make a positive impact and construct a healthier future for all.

Speaking onthe overwhelming response to the health campaign, Mr. Pranab Kumar Bhattacharyya, CEO – Alumina Business, Vedanta Ltd. said, “Ensuring access to quality healthcare is not just a privilege but a fundamental right. At Vedanta Aluminium, we prioritize healthcare as a cornerstone of our social impact efforts. Whether it’s through our Mobile Health Units delivering doorstep services or organizing large-scale health camps like this one, we’re dedicated to extending quality healthcare to remote communities across the nation. We firmly believe that by improving health outcomes, we can ignite a ripple effect of enhanced community well-being.”

Dr. Budhudev Gomango, Medical Officer, Vedanta Hospital,“As a doctor who is actively engaged with this initiative, Vedanta Lanjigarh’spersistent contribution towards the community with integrity, respect, and care is commendable. Their unwavering commitment tosocial responsibility and environmental stewardshiptruly creates a lasting impact for all the stakeholders.Through initiatives like these, Vedanta continues to uphold its values and vision, forging a healthier and more prosperous future for everyone.”

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

• Vedanta Hospital: 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 pregnantwomen.  
• 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.  

Vedanta Aluminium, a business of Vedanta Limited, is India’s largest producer of aluminium, manufacturing more than half of India’s aluminium i.e., 2.37 million tonnes in FY24. It is a leader in value-added aluminium products that find critical applications in core industries. Vedanta Aluminium ranks 1st in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2023 world rankings for the aluminium industry, a reflection of its leading sustainable development practices. With its world-class aluminium smelters, alumina refinery and power plants in India, the company fulfils its mission of spurring emerging applications of aluminium as the ‘Metal of the Future’ for a greener tomorrow. 

About Vedanta Aluminium Business: 

Vedanta Aluminium, a business of Vedanta Limited, is India’s largest producer of aluminium, manufacturing more than half of India’s aluminium i.e., 2.29 million tonnes in FY23. It is a leader in value-added aluminium products that find critical applications in core industries. Vedanta Aluminium ranks 1st in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2023 world rankings for the aluminium industry. With its world-class aluminium smelters, alumina refinery and power plants in India, the company fulfils its mission of spurring emerging applications of aluminium as the ‘Metal of the Future’ for a greener tomorrow. www.vedantaaluminium.com