Drug firm takes health to school

Chandigarh-based pharmaceutical company Ind-Swift Ltd is undertaking a major healthcare programme in more than 100 government schools, covering over 10,000 students. The programme will provide kits on first aid, and medicines for general use, apart from increasing awareness.

The health-programme schools have been initiated with an investment of Rs 10 lakh in the first phase according to G Munjal, chairman, Ind-Swift.

In the second phase, the company plans to cover towns around Chandigarh, like Panchkula, Mohali, Kharar, Rajpura, Ambala, Patiala and Zirakpur.

"Lack of health awareness in government schools was a major reason for us to take the initiative. Moreover it gives us the opportunity to start working in for a social cause,"said Munjal.

The project has three phases to cover, the first phase will involve distribution of free first aid kits containing the items required for first aid and medicines for general use.

In the second phase, the Swift team will visit the schools and give lectures on basic health care to the students. In the third phase, representatives from all the schools will be trained in a workshop for follow-up of the programme.