Nashik, September 01, 2023. SBI Capital Markets Ltd (SBICAPS)- India’s leading investment bank, as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts, has been working in partnership with Concern India Foundationfor the last three years towards strengthening the basic infrastructure of health centres at Raigad and Nashik districts of Maharashtra. Since 2020, SBICAPS has been working towards making basic healthcare facilities accessible to all and has supported 15 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHC) and 1 Community Healthcare centre in the Raigad, Palghar and Nashik districts of Maharashtra.
To commemorate the completion of work in the Kanchangaon and Talogha health centres, Nashik, Shri Rajay Sinha, MD & CEO, SBICAPS and Shri Shesh Ram Verma, President & COO, SBICAPS unveiled the plaque in the presence of Dr. Kapil Aher, Deputy Director Health, Nashik Division, Dr. Sudhakar More, District Health Officer, Dr. Yuvraj Deore, Additional District Health Officer, Mr. M.B Deshmukh, Taluka Health Officer, Dr. Sonali Koli – Medical Officer Kaluste, Satish Gawane, Deputy Sarpanch, Gram Panchayat Kanchangaon and Anna Joy, Director Programs, Concern India Foundation.
“SBICAPS has been supporting several social initiativesacross healthcare, education, environment, poverty alleviation, child development, vocational training and women empowerment, actively pursuing and endorsing community improvement efforts in varying capacities, across India. Over the past few years, ‘upgradation of primary healthcare facilities’ has been one of the flagship initiatives under our CSR programme considering the impact of the COVID pandemic. We have been working towards making basic healthcare facilities accessible to all and have allocated a substantial amount of CSR funds to this initiative. We truly believe that strengthening the primary health care system not only addresses the health and well-being of millions but also decreases mortality numbers thus creating equal opportunities for all sections of society. We are confident that all the stakeholders including the medical staff, nurses, ASHA workers, and most importantly the villagers who are mostly tribal people, will highly benefit from the upgraded medical facilities near their own homes. We are humbled and privileged to get such opportunities to impact lives and be flagbearers of change to create a more inclusive society” said Shri Rajay Sinha, MD & CEO, SBICAPS.
Post-intervention it was noticed that access to primary healthcare facilities had improved, ambulances were made accessible where there was a significant need for it, reducing travel costs and time of the beneficiaries. Also, the local populace does not have to travel too far for small procedures that were otherwise not available in these PHCs due to lack of equipment and facilities. Solar panels installed directly have helped the doctors to conduct medical procedures even when there is an electricity cut-off in the area.
Strengthening sub-centres and primary health care centres not only addresses the health and well-being of millions but also decreases mortality numbers. Last year, two sub-health centres and one PHC in Igatpuri in Nashik district were supported with infrastructure, medical and surgical equipment, medical consumables for curative and preventive healthcare and medical services to the tribal communities of the region. Additionally, the rural hospital in Ghoti was supported with a TYPE-C ambulance to cater to the nearby villages for emergency services.
