New Delhi, Sep 27 (IANS): A free Mobile Healthcare Unit (MHU) was launched here Saturday in an effort to bridge the widening gap between rural and urban healthcare for women.

Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan, lit the torch at Triveni Kala Sangam in the presence of a large gathering of dignitaries.

The Naari Jeevan Srot Express (MHU), as it is called, was flagged off by Sushma Dureja, deputy commissioner, ministry of health and family welfare.

An initiative by the Gaudium Foundation, it will connect 74 districts and 250 locations in northern India by bus, reaching out to more than 9.5 crore people.

The bus will hold 18 medical camps in Delhi and cover multiple villages in Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Jammu.

Apart from mapping the magnitude of gynaecological diseases among Indian women and sensitizing health care professionals on the same, the campaign intends to seek probable solutions, covering all aspects of treatment modalities, right from risk identification and analysis to preventive strategies, diagnosis and medication, treatment or surgery, if required.

"The purpose of the Naari Jeevan Srot Express is to support the efforts of the government to reduce maternal deaths and promote well being of the girl child. Though there has been considerable progress on the twin fronts of newborn and reproductive health, but still a lot needs to be done," said Manika Khanna, founder of Gaudium Foundation.

The mobile unit will provide free treatment including medicines, iron supplements, diet counselling besides full body check up and body composition analysis.

Key dignitaries present at the launch included parliamentarian Meenakshi Lekhi, Sr. Deputy Director General Indian Council of Medical Research and members of Delhi Medical Association and Indian Medical Association.