a healthy society

The world has developed rapidly. Technology drives us in more ways than we know. We are evolving into a "anything available off the shelf" world. Everything is available for sale...packed food, cars, homes, loans, movies, philosophy, even a wife or husband. 

In Kerala, we are also witnessing these changes and though most of us resist it, the change is sweeping across. Keralites have a strange passion for information. No other state has so many television channels...no other state sells so many copies of newspapers or magazines. Yet we are also the slowest to take advantage of a situation or to walk up to an opportunity. We spend an unbelievable amount of money on cars and mobile phones and liquor, though we are not the richest state. 

The statistics for health are also amazing. The number of allopathic clinics in kerala in 2001 owned by the Government are 143 and private hospitals numbered 4288 and 31 homoeo clinics.

This number has vastly increased in the last few years and the health sector has seen a tremendous development in terms of numbers and facilities. Large companies are eyeing the healthcare sector as a major industry for investment with fast returns.

We still have a formidable task ahead of us in terms of healthcare. Major investments and more facilities are needed. We have only one doctor for every 1000 persons whereas it is three in other countries. The number of patients visiting a district hospital everyday is 2000 whereas it is estimated that about 40000 people require specialist treatment everyday.We have 1 hospital bed  for every 500 patients in the urban area and shamefully only 1 bed for every 5000 in rural areas. 

In an emergency, people still don't know what to do. The change from a joint family to smaller units has made most of our lives islands. Sure, we socialise more, have more friends and the freedom to do what we want to do...but in times of trouble/disaster we find we are ALONE.

And still we have done nothing to change that. We have state of the art hospitals and diagnostic centres, yet people have still not understood the true value of service. The only time we visit the hospital is when we are in an emergency, or after we are diagnosed with a terminal illness. The oily food, the sweets and stuff that add value to our socialising occasions are hammering our health in disastrous ways. 

Take a look at yourself. Do you call yourself healthy? Well if the answer is 'yes" you are one of the lucky few. For the others, they are soon on their way to sugar free sweets, salad corners and insulin.

Yes, a few hospitals are evolving into centres which also ensure hospitality along with the finest medical service but we have a long way to go.

Three of us friends began this unique organisation called LIFELINES with the aim of ensuring better access to these healthcare facilities.The response has been more than gratifying. We ensure that the aged are not kept waiting in queue at hospitals, that they have access to a vehicle when they need to go for a check-up, that they do not need to panic when they need an ambulance...that we are still a society that cares about each other and that you can get a little more care at hospitals at a lot less prices. That they are ensured a sense of security with the feeling that YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

Do join us in our mission to ensure an educated, prepared society that can get healthcare at their doorstep, and know that help is at hand when you need it. Do send in your comments and ideas and do encourage us to reach our goals.