Boat Clinics in Republic Day Tableau

The Boat Clinics found a pride of place and displayed at the Republic Day Tableau in Nalbari and Lakhimpur by the respective District Health Societies, winning the first prize at Lakhimpur. The model, designed by District Media Expert, Bijendra Gogoi, highlighted the need for family planning and institutional delivery including Govenment incentives for the same.  The Republic Day function was held at Lakhimpur’s Higher Secondary School Field where the Deputy Commissioner of the district, Jayanta Narlikar hoisted the National Flag. At Nalbari the function was held at the Gordon field, where the State Revenue Minister, Dr Bhumidhar Burman hoisted the Tricolour in presence of the Deputy Commissioner, Ashutosh Agnihotri and other district officials. The event was covered in leading vernacular dailies of the state- Khabar, Amar Asom and Pratidin.

From the launch of the Boat Clinic in Dibrugarh in 2005 and its spread across Assam to 10 districts in 2009, most districts have reported support from villagers and government. Sustained health care through Boat clinics to excluded people on islands of the Brahmaputra river, Assam  have reached nearly 3,00,000 of the poor  with a focus on reducing maternal and infant mortality rates in partnership with the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and UNICEF.