*BALCO’s Health Initiatives Make Healthcare Accessible for 1.2 Lakh Individuals*

‘Making healthcare travel the extra mile to reach the last mile’
Tirentra Time’s Korba **//**//*       *Balconagar, 20 June 2026:* As healthcare systems continue to evolve, the challenge lies not only in expanding medical infrastructure but also in ensuring that quality healthcare reaches those who need it the most. In communities, where accessing medical care once meant travelling long distances, Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO)’s Mobile Health Van (MHV) and Project Arogya are helping bridge critical healthcare gaps. Together, these initiatives have benefitted over 1.2 lakh individuals in FY 26, strengthening access to healthcare services and promoting healthier communities.

For years, persistent joint pain slowly disrupted the daily life of 60-year-old Phool Mani Ekka from Parimarh village. Diagnosed with osteoarthritis, even travelling to a healthcare facility became difficult. Accessing treatment meant overcoming distance, physical discomfort, and financial constraints, barriers that often prevent rural patients from receiving timely care.

That changed when BALCO’s MHV began visiting her village. “Travelling for treatment was not possible for me. When the Mobile Health Van started visiting our village, I finally received medical consultation near my home. Today, my treatment is regular, and every visit helps me continue my physiotherapy and exercises under proper guidance,” recalls Phool Mani Ekka.

Her story reflects a broader challenge across rural India, where access to healthcare is often constrained by geography, affordability, and the availability of specialised services. In such settings, early diagnosis, regular follow-up, and preventive care become as important as treatment itself.

Highlighting the importance of collaborative efforts in strengthening healthcare delivery, Dr S.N. Keshari, Chief Medical & Health Officer (CMHO), Korba, said, “Our commitment is towards strengthening public healthcare systems in the grassroots of Chhattisgarh. Corporates including BALCO play a crucial role in complementing this effort. Its project Arogya and Mobile Health Van initiatives have ensured that care reaches the last mile person, thereby enhancing access to medical systems across the region.”

With a focus on improving healthcare accessibility, BALCO’s MHV operates through fortnightly visits across 70 nearby communities, delivering primary healthcare services closer to people’s homes. Recognising evolving healthcare needs, BALCO has further strengthened the programme by upgrading the MHV with physiotherapy services and essential laboratory facilities. Equipped to conduct over 40 diagnostic tests on-site, the initiative enables early screening, routine health monitoring, and timely medical intervention, particularly in areas with limited diagnostic infrastructure. In FY 26, more than 27,000 individuals benefitted through this programme.

Complementing these efforts, Project Arogya focuses on preventive and community healthcare through multi-speciality mega health camps, awareness programmes, and primary healthcare interventions. These programs address key health priorities, including maternal and child healthcare, malnutrition, anaemia reduction, and awareness on HIV, tuberculosis, and de-addiction by bringing specialised medical expertise closer to communities.

For Neha Kanwar, a resident of a village near Balconagar, Project Arogya became a catalyst for improving her daughter’s health and nutrition. “When I joined the project, my daughter Kavya was 2.5 years old and weighed only 11 kg. Through nutrition counselling and guidance provided by the project, I made simple changes to our daily meals. Within two months, her weight increased by 1.5 kg, and she gradually reached the normal weight range. Today, I encourage other mothers in my community to adopt similar practices. I am grateful to BALCO for this support,” she shares.

By bringing specialized medical expertise closer to communities while promoting health awareness and preventive practices, Project Arogya has benefited over 93,000 individuals in FY 26.

Together, these initiatives reflect BALCO’s commitment to strengthening community healthcare through a continuum-of-care approach that combines doorstep medical services, preventive healthcare, awareness, and access to specialised treatment. By addressing both immediate healthcare needs and long-term health outcomes, BALCO continues to contribute towards building healthier, more resilient communities.