3,199 staff, 72 medical camps and 78 ambulances deployed for Medaram Jatara

With 3,199 staff, including 544 doctors, deployed across three hospitals and 72 medical camps, the Health Department has put in place extensive arrangements for the Sammakka-Saralamma Jatara. A total of 38 ambulances and 40 bike ambulances, have also been stationed to handle emergencies during the four-day tribal festival.

At a review meeting held on Tuesday, Health Minister C. Damodar Raja Narasimha directed officials to ensure comprehensive and uninterrupted medical services for the lakhs of devotees expected to attend the fair. He instructed the department to take stringent measures so that pilgrims do not face any medical difficulties and ordered the deployment of specialist doctors to the 50-bed hospital, mini-hospitals and key medical camps set up near the fairgrounds.

The Minister reviewed arrangements at the three hospitals and 30 medical camps established at the main venue, as well as the 42 additional camps set up along the main roads leading to Medaram.

A 50-bed hospital has been set up near the holy platforms at Medaram, a six-bed hospital at Jampanna Vagu and another mini-hospital at the English medium school, all staffed with specialist doctors. So far, 11,625 people have availed medical services at the fair, officials said.

To ensure swift response in emergencies, the Minister directed that both four-wheeler and two-wheeler ambulances remain available round the clock and that patients be shifted within minutes when required. He also instructed that Mulugu Government General Hospital (GGH) and MGM Hospital in Warangal function as referral hospitals, with doctors and staff remaining on high alert 24 hours a day to handle serious cases.

Tge minister further called for strict surveillance of food stalls at the fair and ordered action against vendors selling substandard food items. He directed officials to erect signboards displaying the locations and details of hospitals and medical camps across the fair area to help devotees access medical assistance easily.