BHUBANESWAR: Around 57 mentally challenged women from 15 districts were rescued by the People’s Forum as a part of its project Mission Ashra. ‘Operation MAA’ was conducted for 15 hours and 15 ambulances were prseed into service. A trained rescue team was fanned out to 15 districts to rescue the mentally challenged and destitute women. After bringing them to Bhubaneswar, they were cleaned up and given first aid. However, when Capital Hospital was approached to provide first aid to these women, they refused. Through a letter they informed that they did not have wards or indoor facilities. The people from Ashra are now pinning hopes on SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack, for treatment of these women. Ashra has been in the service of the mentally challenged for the past seven years. These rescued women will be taken to Ashra’s shelter if no hospital admits them. . The plight of the mentally challenged in the State worsens considering there are only 100 beds. While SCB Medical has 40 beds, MKCG Medical College and Hospital, Berhampur, has 40 beds and VSS Medical, Burla, 20. According to a recent WHO report, around 30,000 mentally challenged people are currently homeless and the State does not have adequate infrastructure to treat them.
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