Odisha Governor Dr Hari Babu Kambhampati on Monday called for strengthening training modules for St. John Ambulance volunteers and improving inter-departmental coordination to elevate the standard of emergency medical services across the state.
Chairing the executive committee meeting of the St. John Ambulance, Odisha State Centre, held at the New Abhishek Hall conference room in Loka Bhavan, the Governor stressed the urgent necessity of modernising ambulances with advanced medical equipment and facilities.
He suggested adopting a phased approach—upgrading a pilot ambulance first before systematically scaling up improvements across the entire fleet.
Addressing the committee, the Governor supported deploying trained St. John Ambulance volunteers to help elderly and disabled visitors at the Srimandir temple, emphasising the need for advanced training and preparation.
During the session, Honorary Secretary Ganesh Chandra Patra presented a comprehensive report detailing the organization’s ongoing activities and operational roadmap.
The high-level meeting saw the participation of several senior government dignitaries, including Director General of Fire Services Dr Sudhanshu Sarangi, Additional Chief Secretary Dr Arvind Padhee, Transport Commissioner and STA Chairman Amitabh Thakur, Odisha Police Housing and Welfare Corporation CMD Soumendra Priyadarshee, and Commissioner-cum-Secretary of Health and Family Welfare Department Aswathy S., alongside other senior departmental officials.
