112 more health units sanctioned

BHUBANESWAR: Faced with shortage of doctors, the Government has sanctioned an additional 112 mobile health units to cater to the medical needs of the tribal-dominated blocks and backward KBK.While 118 tribal-dominated blocks of the State are having mobile health service facility, the Health and Family Welfare Department has expanded the service to 230 blocks, including 18 non-tribal blocks, during the current financial year.The Government has sanctioned Rs 16 crore for operationalisation of 112 mobile health units in the current fiscal. The annual expenditure on each mobile unit is estimated at Rs 14.17 lakh.At least two mobile health units are provided to each of the 118 tribal-dominated blocks under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM). However, the Naxal- infested Malkangir district is the only exception. All the blocks of the district are having three mobile units each.Presiding over the sixth governing body meeting of the Orissa State Health and Family Welfare Society here on Wednesday, Chief Secretary BK Patnaik directed the Health and Family Welfare Department to expand the service of Janani Express to all the districts.As the free transportation system from the villages to the hospitals for deliveries has found acceptance among the people in the rural  areas, the Chief Secretary directed the department to issue necessary instructions to the district authorities to make provision to take delivery patients to second or third referral hospitals wherever necessary.The meeting also decided to create 124 newborn corners in Government health centres in addition to the existing 452. The newborn corners will provide better post-natal services to the child and the mother as well. This will help arrest the infant mortality and maternal mortality rates.The IMR, which was 97 per 1,000 live births in 2000, came down to 65 in 2009.The Chief Secretary also directed to give incentives to Asha Karmis. They should be given additional responsibilities in the child and maternal health care services.While the Government has provided free cycles to 35,096 out of 42,816 Asha Karmis, the rest will be covered this year.Health and Family Welfare Secretary Anu Garg, Secretary in charge of Panchayati Raj Department SN Tripathy, W&CD Secretary Arati Ahuja and representatives of Unicef and DFID were present.