Uttarakhand Char Dham: Death toll reaches 29, govt launches e-Swasthya Dham app for pilgrim’s best treatment
Dehradun: In last 10 days of Char Dham pilgrimage in Uttarakhand, the death count has reached to 29 pilgrims, mostly due to heart ailments and the weather conditions suffered by pilgrims at the high-altitude zone. To provide better health facilities to the pilgrims, the state government has introduced e-Swasthya app.
Most of the deaths are due to heart ailments
The deaths, primarily due to heart-related issues, occurred in the shrines of Badrinath, Yamunotri, Gangotri, and Kedarnath. In Badrinath shrine, Shashi Kant, a 49-year-old pilgrim from Surat, suffered a cardiac arrest during his visit to Badrinath and lost his life. His death contributed to the total of four deaths at the shrine. In Yamunotri, Kamlesh Bhai Patel, a 53-year-old devotee from Gujarat, fell ill while on his way to Yamunotri. This brought the total deaths at the Yamunotri shrine to 11. In Gangotri Shrine, two people have died. According to Rudraprayag administration, the death count at the Kedarnath shrine reached 12, with six deaths occurring on Saturday alone.
Launch of e-Swasthya Dham app for the convenience of pilgrims
According to state chief secretary, Radha Raturi, the Health Department, Wish Foundation and Hans Foundation have launched the e-Swasthya Dham app to provide best health facilities to the devotees visiting Char Dham shrines. All the devotees have to upload their health data on the e-Swasthya Dham app. Health screening of devotees will be done at various places by the health department. Along with doctors from the health department, doctors from Hans and Wish Foundation will also be present at these screening points.
Health screening will be mandatory for pilgrims above 50 years of age
As per the chief secretary, if the devotees provide their correct medical history during registration, it will make it easier for the administration to provide medical aid to the devotees during any emergency. Availability of medical history of devotees will also make it easier for the administration to manage its medical resources better. Furthermore, health screening will be mandatory for pilgrims above 50 years of age.
This platform enables pilgrims to easily access their medical records
Department of Health & Family Welfare, Government of Uttarakhand in collaboration with WISH (Wadhwani Initiative for Sustainable Healthcare) has launched a pioneering initiative “e-Swasthya Dham” aimed at improving the healthcare and monitoring system for the pilgrims visiting the sacred Char Dham Yatra. This “e-Swasthya Dham” is a dedicated web app that has been carefully designed to monitor the health status of pilgrims during their journey. Seamlessly integrated with the existing Char Dham registration portal on the tourism site, this platform enables pilgrims to easily access their medical records through their ABHA ID, ensuring easy retrieval of essential health information.
This aims to educate pilgrims about the potential health risks
For uninterrupted access to vital health information, the web app will be continuously updated, minimizing the risk of technical glitches. Pilgrims are encouraged to enroll by visiting “https://eswasthyadham.uk.gov.in”. Apart from the web app, this initiative includes the creation of information, education and communication (IEC) advisories. These advisories aim to educate pilgrims about the potential health risks, preventive measures and the importance of seeking timely medical attention if necessary.