51 health teams to accompany 12,000 warkaris from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar to Pandharpur

Chhatrapati Sambhajingar: The Zilla Parishad’s (ZP) health department has deployed 51 medical teams to assist approximately 12,000 warkaris travelling from various parts of the district to the temple town of Pandharpur for Ashadhi Ekadashi on July 25.Of the 51 teams, 45 will accompany the pilgrimage processions (palkhis) on foot. These personnel have been equipped with dedicated vehicles, first-aid supplies, comprehensive medication kits, and essential medical equipment. Special health teams have also been assigned to the major annual processions of Shri Sant Janardan Swami and Shri Sant Eknath Maharaj.District health officer Dr Vishal Bendre said, “In addition to the mobile medical units, ‘108’ and ‘102’ ambulance services and cardiac ambulances will be stationed along the route to Pandharpur.

Trained medical officers, nurses, and health workers will remain on duty 24 hours a day to manage any emergencies.”Primary health centres (PHCs) and sub-centres along the pilgrimage routes have been stocked with adequate life-saving medicines. Display boards featuring emergency contact numbers have been installed at strategic locations to assist pilgrims.To ensure public safety, the ZP administration is monitoring water sources.

Special ‘arogyadoots’ (health ambassadors) have been appointed to inspect and disinfect water bodies to provide safe drinking water to the warkaris. Further, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been instructed to conduct regular inspections of eateries and food stalls along the route.“To prevent the outbreak of infectious and vector-borne diseases, malaria eradication teams are conducting regular fogging and insecticide spraying at all halting points. Simultaneously, ASHA workers and health staff are providing continuous health education to warkaris regarding personal hygiene, safe water consumption, snakebite prevention, and basic first aid,” health authorities added.