Lifeline Express

The Lifeline Express or Jeevan Rekha Express is a mobile hospital in a train run by the "Impact India Foundation". It was developed in collaboration with the Indian Railways and Health Ministry and has been funded by Impact UK, international charitable sources, Indian corporate houses and individuals. It started on 16 July 1991; so far the service has benefitted 400,000 Indians in the remotest rural parts of the country over the course of approximately ninety-three projects.

Currently in its sixteenth year, the Lifeline express now operates two trains. Similar projects have also been started, notably the Jibon Tori project in Bangladesh. Other countries, such as China and Zimbabwe, have come forward to start their Lifeline Express on which major surgeries have been performed to restore movement, hearing, sight and correction of clefts.

History

Mission

The Lifeline express was started to provide on-the-spot diagnostic, medical and advanced surgical treatment for preventive and curative interventions for the handicapped for outreach into inaccessible rural areas where medical services are not available; offering using the Indian Railway Network which is the largest in the world comprising about 63,500 kilometres of tracks. In addition to providing access to these much needed service, the Lifeline express seeks to improve the efficiency of the existing local government and voluntary health infrastructure and services, as well as providing initiative and encouragement for the local bodies to get involved in all aspects of the programme and provide follow-up services after the train has left. Also, it leaves behind a much greater awareness on health issues and concepts amongst the local populace, as well as administrative and voluntary health organisations. At a higher level, the Lifeline express seeks to promote awareness on issues facing the handicapped, and promotes and encourages both the Government and NGO sector to get involved. It also promotes media awareness.

ervices

The Lifeline Express provides a number of medical services including
*Orthopaedic and surgical intervention for correction of handicap and restoration of movement, especially those as a result of polio.
*Ophtamological procedures and interventions, eg cataract surgery and Intraocular lenses.
*Audiometry and surgical interventions for restoration of hearing.
*Surgical correction of Cleft palate.
*Counselling and referral services.
*Liaison with local health authorities and follow-up.
*Immunisations and other preventive measures.
* Nutritional assessment and services.
*Promotion of Health awareness among the deprived in the neglected rural and semi-urban areas
*Providing training to medical and allied-health professionals and other voluntary personnel in surgical procedures, medical and health issues for work in unique field situations.

The train visits different parts of the country, usually rural areas with insufficient medical facilities, or areas hit by natural disasters, etc., and stays in each place for several days while medical care (routine as well as major surgery) is provided to the local people. The train which was started in 1991 lasted till 2007.

Facilities

Each Lifeline express train, with specially designed air-conditioned coaches, has one surgical operation theatre with three operating tables, a sterilizing room, several patient wards, on-board power generators, a pantry car, storage for medical supplies, and accommodation for medical staff.The New Lifeline express was given by the Indian Railways in 2007 has five coaches. The first coach consists of the office and the medical store, as well as two autoclave units. It also houses a drawing room. The Staff compartment is situated at the rear with a 12 berth staff-quarter, kitchen unit, water purifier, a gas stove and electric oven and refrigerator. The train has a main Operation Theatre with three operating tables and a second self-contained operating theatre with two tables. In the main theatre, each table has its own set of anesthetic equipment, shadow lights, Boyles apparatus with Halothene Vapourisers and imported Carl Zeiss microscope, multipurpose, monitor, defibrillator, diathermy cautery machine, anesthesia ventilator etc. The theatres are equipped with a closed circuit television camera which is used in providing training to local doctors in live surgical procedures. An attached six bed recovery room is situated beside the main theatre. The Lifeline Express also has a self contained operation theatre. The second theatre is powered by an independent 75 KVA Diesel Generating set and this can be detached to form a stand-alone operation theatre, and is to be used in disaster management.

Additionally, the train has an Ophthalmologic testing room, a Laboratory, a X-Ray unit and an auditorium with a large LCD display unit. The train also has a public address system and closed-circuit TV.

Indian Railway after 16 years of tireless work (93 projects in different parts of India) from the Lifeline Express has provided Impact India foundation with five New coaches, for the new and improved Jeevan Rekha Express. There was just one Operation theater in the old one however according to the CEO of the Lifeline Express Col. Randhir Singh Vishwen the operation theatres would be doubled now. The rest of the setup remains same.

The Lifeline Express was started on July 16, 1991, with three coaches donated by IR, and equipment from Impact India, a non-profit Organisation based in seven countries around the world, with its Indian headquarters in Mumbai. Impact India still runs the trains with help from IR and corporate and private donors.

References

* [http://www.rotary1100.org/RotaryPages/IMPACT/LifeLineExpress.htm Rotary club. The IMPACT Foundation] .
* [http://www.impactindia.org/lifeline.htm Impact India foundation] .
* [http://student.bmj.com/back_issues/0698/data/0698l4.htm Student BMJ]