AMMA gets a boost: 22 new vehicles to join ambulance fleet

The 1962-AMMA service was launched in 2016 by the then chief minister J Jayalalithaa to help livestock farmers across the state. Two years on, the initiative has received good response among the public. 

Following this, officials from GVK-Emergency Management and Research Institute (EMRI) and Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (Tanuvas), who are operating the service, said they have procured new 22 more ambulances to expand the services so as to ensure that livestock is well taken care of. 

Sources said the officials from Tanuvas has already been operating only 10 such ambulances in five districts – Tiruchy, Madurai, Kancheepuram, Namakkal and Thanjavur – since 2017. 

As general public is largely unware about the service in the initial period, officials said awareness was gradually being disseminated resulting in increasing in the number of calls. 

“Such service has provided an opportunity for the livestock farmers to increase the rate of survival of their animals. It has thus reduced the economic loss to the owners of livestock. This service also acts as a check to contain epidemic outbreaks like Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) among the livestock with timely and quality medical intervention,” said an official from Tanuvas. 

“The 1962 contact centre has so far received 67,208 calls since its inception. Callers are mostly from rural areas. Among the five districts where the service is available, Thanjavur has taken a lead, saving 900 animals so far,” added the official. 

“Based on the response, we have already procured 22 ambulances to expand the services to the other districts. After call centre receives the call, the staff there would transfer the call to veterinary doctors for medical inquiry. If ambulatory transport is necessary, the doctor would direct the veterinary hospitals in that particular area to send the ambulance for bringing the animal for treatment,” explained an official. 

When contacted, Selvakumar, Chief Operating Officer, GVK-EMRI, said, “We are in the process of identifying districts to expand the services.”