Gorakhpur, 16 Sept (HS): Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said

that nine and a half years ago, every conscious parent in eastern Uttar Pradesh

was worried about seeing children suffering from encephalitis and their

childhoods dying. But now this worry has ended. He said that like the mafia and

mosquitoes, encephalitis has also been eradicated. Now, in this new era, we are

seeing a new Gorakhpur and a new Uttar Pradesh. The Chief Minister said that

the government is starting dialysis units with ten beds each in all district

hospitals across the state.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was addressing the

inauguration ceremony of a charitable blood bank operated by the Indian Medical

Association (IMA) Gorakhpur on Wednesday. The Chief Minister inaugurated the

charitable blood center by cutting the ribbon and toured the center to inquire

about the facilities, equipment, and arrangements available there.

Speaking from the stage of the inauguration ceremony,

highlighting the positive changes in healthcare services in eastern Uttar

Pradesh, the Chief Minister said that nine and a half years ago, Gorakhpur's

BRD Medical College was the primary healthcare center in the region. The

situation was such that up to four patients were admitted to a single bed. The

encephalitis ward was on the third floor, lacking fans, toilets, and other

essential amenities. He said that BRD Medical College, which was once

unhealthy, has now become a super-specialty center and a major center for the

treatment of various diseases, including encephalitis.

The Chief Minister said that AIIMS has also been established

in Gorakhpur. Medical colleges have been opened in various districts, including

Maharajganj, Kushinagar, Deoria, Siddharthnagar, Basti, Balrampur, Bahraich,

Gonda, Ayodhya, and Ambedkarnagar. The state has 75 districts, while the number

of medical colleges has increased to 85. Two AIIMS are also operational. MBBS

seats have increased from 4,600 to over 13,500, and PG seats have doubled.

Nursing and paramedical education is also being expanded.

The district was once known for its notorious mafia, and

doctors were their victims. Chief Minister Yogi said that at one time, every

district in the state was associated with some notorious mafia. Doctors became

their victims. In Gorakhpur, doctors were kidnapped, extorted, received

threatening phone calls, and were assaulted in their chambers. He had to

protest these incidents on the streets with doctors. He said that today,

doctors, businessmen, and citizens across the state, including Gorakhpur, feel

safe. Now, the state is being identified not by the mafia but by the goal of

One District, One Medical College.

The Chief Minister praised the social concerns of IMA: The

Chief Minister lauded the IMA's social commitments, stating that it is not

merely an organization of practicing doctors. He added that in 2017-18, the IMA

launched a free outpatient department (OPD) at the Sitapur Eye Hospital in

Gorakhpur. Subsequently, when the IMA requested land for its office, the

Gorakhpur Development Authority provided assistance in providing the plot. The

IMA has made good use of this land and established a charitable blood center,

which will contribute to providing blood to needy patients in eastern Uttar

Pradesh.

Guru Gorakhnath Hospital was mentioned as a model of

charity: Referring to the establishment of Guru Gorakhnath Chikitsalaya under

the guidance of his Gurudev, the late Mahant Avedyanath Ji Maharaj, the Chief

Minister said that initially there was discussion of starting the hospital with

10 beds, but with the cooperation of Gorakhpur doctors, it was initially

expanded to a 100-bed hospital. This hospital demonstrated that hospitals,

blood banks, and ICUs can be successfully run through charity. Facilities like

blood separators, apheresis, and dialysis were developed here. He said that

dialysis, for which people once had to go to Lucknow or BHU, is now available

in Gorakhpur with quality facilities.

Welcoming the Chief Minister and other guests at the

Charitable Blood Center's inauguration ceremony, IMA Gorakhpur President Dr. RP

Shukla said that CM Yogi, through his vision, has taken Gorakhpur and the

state's healthcare services to new heights. Under the Chief Minister's

leadership, Gorakhpur is becoming a medical hub and a new center for medical

tourism. Mayor Dr. Manglesh Shrivastava and Gorakhpur Rural MLA Vipin Singh

also addressed the ceremony. The vote of thanks was given by former IMA

Gorakhpur President Dr. DK Singh, and the ceremony was conducted by IMA

Gorakhpur Secretary Dr. Y Singh.

On this occasion, MLC and BJP State Vice President Dr.

Dharmendra Singh, MLA Dr. Vimlesh Paswan, Pradeep Shukla, State Women

Commission Vice President Charu Chaudhary, BJP District President Janardan

Tiwari, Metropolitan President Ramesh Pratap Gupta, IMA Gorakhpur Joint

Secretary Dr. Dinesh Chandra, Guru Gorakhnath Blood Bank in-charge Dr. Awadhesh

Agarwal, Dr. Mahendra Agarwal, Dr. Amresh Singh, Dr. CM Sinha, Dr. Shivshankar

Shahi, Dr. Babita Shukla and a large number of doctors were present.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi