***It was India's first prime minister, the late Jawaharlal Nehru, who suggested that the country's vast railway system could be used to deliver health and other social services, by Jagan Nath.***

HE world's first hospft-I al on tracks now travels A along India's railways.

It carries free medical aid to millions of handicapped patients In rural areas.

Called "Lifeline Express.' the medical train is “a path-breaking enterprise and something for India to be mighty proud of." says one social worker

And It to "already arousing considerable Interest In other countries." according to Sir John Wilson, a senior consultant with Impact India, a social service organisation which is. together with Indian Railways, behind Ufellne Express.

Interestingly. It was Sir John whom India's first prime minister, the late Jawaharlal Nehru, suggested the idea that the country's vast railways sys tern could be an ideal way of delivering health and social services to the sub-continent s rural areas.

Now. Impact India has invited volunteers to offer time and talent to form a vital link in a country-wide life-saving chain secured together by the Ufellne Express

Impact India promptly sends reply cards to potential volunteers. The information gathered Is fed into a computer to form an area-specific volunteer pool. When the Ufellne Express reaches a particular station, for example, the organisers get in touch with local volunteers.

The mobile hospital is made of three coaches. The first coach is air-conditioned, housing an operating table, a sterilisation room, a diagnostic centre and an in-patient ward. The other two coaches have hving quarters for the medical staff, a pantry, a small workshop for fitting c&lipers and a utility centre.

It was only In 1990 when impact India corpasived. the idea of taking free medical aid to the disabled In rural India. Until then. Impact India — supported by the UN Children's Fund, the World Health Organisation and the Government — was spearheading a mass Immunisation programme in Greater Bombay.

It all began with a small van. recalls Zelma lazarus. director of Impact India. The van used to trundle Into rural areas, bringing the protection of Immunisation to many rural children. Then it was decided that a train could very well do the Job. and better reach many places.

For a start. Ufellne Express will Operate in the backward districts of Bihar state, tn eastern India. The three coaches are attached to trains and shunted to identified sidings and stationed in one place for three weeks.

Among other things, it will try to restore eyesights mobility and hearing. The mobile hospital will make a second a for follow-up of diagnostic surgical treatment.

Ufellne Express hopes to reqch some of 70 million handicapped Indians. It will be stationed tn one place for a given period and will serve patients in nearby villages as

well. It will also complement or initiate local child Immunisation campaigns and conduct health education.

At the Bombay railroad station recently. Ufellne Express ■vas flagged off by V.N.Shukla, general manager of the Central Railway, and nine-year-old Sangeeta.

For Sangeeta, Impact India ha'S proved to be a real lifeline. Until last year, she had been

fully crippled with no hope of ever walking on her own.

Today, thanks to Impact India, she can walk, albeit with the aid of calipers. The child was the cynosure of all eyes as the Bihar-bound Gorakphur Express took off. Leading the coaches was Lifeline Express — three coaches In red. white and blue, embellished by a gay profusion of flowers.

Depthnews