Vijayawada: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s new and innovative initiative, the Jagananna Arogya Suraksha, is a big hit in Andhra Pradesh. Over 26 lakh persons availed the benefit in 6,350 camps and received free consultation, diagnoses, treatment and medicines for the past two weeks.
The Chief Minister said that the core objective of the scheme is to ensure that no family in AP suffers due to preventable health challenges. This exemplifies the unwavering commitment of the AP government to deliver accessible, high-quality healthcare to all citizens.
YSRC ministers, legislators, and leaders said that, in a revolutionary initiative, the camps set a new standard in healthcare accessibility by conducting 53 types of lab tests free of charge.
This comprehensive approach is empowering communities, revolutionising healthcare access and establishing a model for healthcare services. “The scheme is designed to cover all 1.6 crore households at over 10,000 locations, ensuring complete coverage of all 15,004 secretariats across the state,” officials said.
Officials said, “To ensure seamless implementation of this campaign at the grassroots level, the state government has deployed over 21,000 dedicated auxiliary nurse midwives (ANMs) and community health officers (CHOs) to conduct health screenings. Additionally, more than 2.6 lakh Grama and Ward Volunteers and 1.5 lakh secretariat staff members will be actively engaged in spreading awareness among the people.
Health minister Vidadala Rajani said that the standout feature is the remarkable 53 types of lab tests, encompassing critical assessments such as renal function tests (RFT), liver function tests (LFT), lipid profiles, and serum electrolyte evaluations. Samples collected are shared with auxiliary nurse midwives (ANMs) for meticulous follow-up through the family doctor programme. The camps offer comprehensive eye examinations to assess visual health and provide free spectacles to those identified with refractive errors, she said.
She said individuals identified for cataract surgeries receive these life-changing procedures free of charge. Attendees have access to a minimum of two specialist health services. Dedicated female doctors are available to address the unique healthcare needs of women.
About the medicines, the minister said 172 types of drugs are available at the camps. “Referral services are provided. All referred cases are followed up meticulously to ensure proper treatment and the provision of necessary medications at network hospitals. Health counseling is an integral part of the camp, focusing on lifestyle diseases. Nutritional exhibitions and counseling sessions are also available, promoting healthier living practices,” she added.
A beneficiary from Singhnagar, N. Ammaji, shared her experience after attending the JAS camp in her locality. She said the doctors present at the JAS medical camp were able to provide a permanent solution to an eye disease her son was suffering from.
K. Rajarao said he was unable to get treatment for his dermatology-related disease in the private/corporate hospitals but JAS helped him get treatment and medicines free of cost.
