Bhavnagar police have launched a comprehensive three-phase health and wellness initiative for their personnel, recognizing the strenuous conditions under which officers work. The programme, named 'Mission Aarogyam', includes regular medical screening, mental health support, and compulsory medical insurance. Each police station will appoint a dedicated wellness nodal officer to oversee the initiative.
Phase I: Baseline Health Mapping
The first phase of medical screening began on Thursday at Vartej police station, focusing on baseline physical health mapping to ensure early detection of non-communicable diseases and metabolic disorders. Officers are undergoing a core diagnostic battery of tests, including comprehensive blood profiling, ECGs, and kidney and liver function tests. The results will be used to create a digitized Health Risk Registry, systematically categorizing personnel into Green (Healthy), Amber (At-Risk), and Red (Immediate Intervention Required) zones to facilitate targeted medical follow-ups.
Assistant Superintendent of Police, Bhavnagar rural, Ghanshyam Gautam, stated, 'This Phase I rollout focuses on baseline physical health mapping to ensure early detection of non-communicable diseases and metabolic disorders.'
Phase II: Mental Wellness
Superintendent of Police, Bhavnagar, Nitesh Pandey, highlighted the occupational hazards faced by police personnel, including high stress, irregular shift hours, and erratic dietary habits, leading to high vulnerability to non-communicable diseases and psychological fatigue. To combat this, Phase II introduces the 'MANAS' vertical, dedicated to psychological resilience and mental wellness.
This phase aims to reduce stigma around mental health within the force through workshops on meditation, tactical breathing, anger management, and sleep hygiene for rotating shifts. Each police station will appoint a wellness nodal officer to serve as a peer-support point trained in psychological first aid.
Phase III: Health Security
The final phase links healthcare with long-term security. The department has mandated 100% enrolment of personnel and their families under the Gujarat Karmayogi Swasthya Suraksha Yojana, providing cashless medical cover of up to Rs 10 lakh.
The programme was launched under the motto 'Swasth Police, Sashakt Seva' (Healthy Police, Empowered Service) by Assistant Superintendent of Police, Bhavnagar rural, Ghanshyam Gautam.
