Bhubaneswar: Vedanta Aluminium, under the CSR initiative of its Sijimali Bauxite Mines in Odisha, has strengthened medical service delivery at the existing Sunger Primary Health Centre (PHC) through deployment of skilled medical manpower and essential healthcare support, significantly expanding health coverage in the region.
Undertaken in collaboration with the District Health Administration, Rayagada, the initiative addresses persistent healthcare manpower gaps at the Sunger PHC, which caters to nearly 20,000 people across the hilly and tribal catchment area as per Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) norms. Vedanta Aluminium has supported deployment across all 11 staff positions at the PHC, including an MBBS Doctor, AYUSH Doctor, Pharmacist and nursing staff, along with ambulance support. During the last health camp in the area, community members had specifically demanded the provision of a permanent doctor and nursing staff, and this intervention responds directly to that need. The mortuary van is proposed as part of the broader healthcare strengthening effort and is not yet deployed.
The enhanced healthcare support was formally inaugurated on Friday, marking a key step towards improving access to timely and quality healthcare for communities in the Sijimali region. The strengthened medical services are expected to significantly reduce the need for villagers to travel long distances for basic treatment and emergency care, ensuring quicker medical a
ttention for pregnant women, children, elderly residents, and critically ill patients in remote surrounding villages.
The inauguration ceremony was graced by Govinda Ch Naik, husband of Kuni Kumari Naik, Ex Vice Chairman, Kashipur Block; Sunil Kumar Rai, Kashipur Block Program Manager (National Health Mission), Damayanti Sahoo, ANM, alongside Gaurav Mani Naik. The event witnessed participation from approximately 200 attendees, reflecting strong community support for the initiative.
Speaking on the occasion, Headmaster of Dumerpadar School, Suryanaryana Singh said “The Sunger PHC catchment area had been facing shortages in healthcare manpower, impacting access to medical services for local communities. Vedanta Aluminium’s intervention is expected to bridge these critical gaps by strengthening primary healthcare infrastructure, enabling faster medical response, and ensuring better continuity of care for residents across surrounding villages.”
Vedanta Aluminium has been undertaking several healthcare interventions across Odisha to improve access to quality medical services in remote and underserved regions. Through mobile health units, health awareness campaigns, maternal and child healthcare programmes, specialist health camps, nutrition initiatives, and infrastructure support to government healthcare institutions, the company continues to strengthen public healthcare systems in districts such as Rayagada, Kalahandi and Jharsuguda.
Vedanta Aluminium also caters to communities in Koraput district through Kodingamali mines interventions. The Mobile Health Unit forms an important part of this wider outreach by taking essential healthcare services to people’s doorsteps, including basic consultations, screening, primary treatment, referral support and health awareness services for remote villages with limited access to fixed medical facilities.