The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Call EMRI for non-medical cases too

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Thursday, Mar 13, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Call EMRI for non-medical cases too

Staff Reporter

Steps afoot to increase number of 108 ambulances
Even victims of eve-teasing can call it for help

Kakinada: The Emergency Management and Research Institute (EMRI) plans to expand the number of its volunteers to three lakhs from the present 70,000-plus and the 108 ambulances from 502 to 1,000.

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Besides, efforts are being made to project the EMRI as an organisation that caters not only to medical emergencies but also renders services like helping rescue of girls from eve-teasers and tackling other non-medical emergencies.

Speaking to reporters here on Wednesday, EMRI regional manager Y. Rajagopal said that the EMRI had become popular throughout the State for the services being rendered by it in cases of various accidents and health emergencies like heart stroke, hypertension, food poisoning, snakebites etc. due to the familiarity of 108 ambulances.

It had therefore been decided to make the services available to all those who face emergencies other than those medical in nature also. For instance, calls to toll-free number 108 that provide information about harassment of girls would be immediately put through the EMRI call centre to the police to facilitate necessary action.

Similarly, the EMRI contributes its mite in preventing or mitigating any problem being faced by the general public like nuisance created by vagabonds or other forms of contingencies which include burglaries or crimes committed in residential areas or public places. These services are sought to be availed of by the public who are under the impression that EMRI confines itself to medical emergencies.

EMRI district manager D.V.D. Prasad also spoke.

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