Piramal Swasthya of the Piramal Foundation is expanding its health project taken up in the agency (tribal) area of Visakhapatnam district in Araku valley, according to Vishal Phanse, CEO.

He told the media here on Wednesday that the foundation, set up by the Piramal Enterprises Ltd with a presence in financial services, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, had been active in the picturesque Araku valley of Visakhapatnam district for the past six to seven years, providing assistance to pregnant tribal women and reducing maternal and infant mortality rates.

He said that under the Asara programme, “we have covered covered 180 tribal habitations in the inaccessible tribal belt, with a population of 40,000 during the period. Not a single death has been reported for the past two years or so.”

He said now the project was being expanded to cover more areas in the region and to include nutrition and related issues.

“Our community outreach programme will now cover 2.5 lakh women in the area, and the focus will be on nutrition. The project is named Gostani. The foundation is active in 21 States in the country and the methods employed here will be replicated elsewhere, with suitable modifications,” he added.

In response to a query, he said the foundation would be spending ₹50 crore on the project in the next few years and the foundation would be working in coordination with government agencies in the area. Telemedicine was being used to provide assistance to the women in the area.

Shailendra Hegde, a doctor involved in the project, also spoke on the occasion.

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