Andhra Pradesh

Fixed date health services soon

VIZIANAGARAM: ‘Fixed date health services’ with public and private sector participation is being launched as a pilot programme in Mahabubnagar district next month and it will be extended to Anantapur, Kadapa and Adilabad by November, according to Anil Chandra Punetha, Commissioner, Family Welfare.

Addressing a press conference here on Friday, Mr. Punetha said that medical teams would visit habitations located beyond 3 km radius from primary health centres and diagnose diseases, including blood pressure, diabetes, etc. and provide them medical aid at the doorstep on a fixed date in a month. This was part of the emphasis the Centre had laid under the National Rural Health Mission that was launched in 2005.

With a view to strengthening the medical and health sector, the Commissioner said that the appointment of an additional ANM at each sub-centre that had already been made in eight districts so far would be extended to other districts in the next three or four months.

Regarding grants, he said that committees formed at the village-level, sub-centres, PHCs, community health centres and at the level of district headquarters hospital would be sanctioned funds to the tune of Rs.3,000 to Rs.5 lakhs per annum towards sanitation, hospital development and maintenance. Stating that Andhra Pradesh made remarkable progress in family planning, he said the fertility rate among the fertility age group women that stood at 4.2 children in 1971 dropped to 1.8 by 2007. It was far below the target of 2.1 set by NRHM, Mr. Punetha said.

DMHO B. Kasi Naidu, who was present, warned doctors, medical and health staff of stringent action if they did not stay at their place of posting and gave them four months time.

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu