Health Minister U.T. Khader said the State is moving ahead on setting up a government medical college at the Wenlock Hospital.
Speaking at a function of Karnataka Nurses Association’s Mangalore branch on Friday, Mr. Khader said the necessary clearances would be obtained for the medical college at the Wenlock Hospital. “We will give time for Kasturba Medical College which has been providing services at the Wenlock for several years to relocate,” he said.
Later speaking to reporters, Mr. Khader said following discussions with officials it was decided to set up the medical college which has been a long-felt demand of Mangaloreans. “We will try to obtain licence from the Medical Council of India in this regard,” he said. Asked about the launch time of the college, Mr. Khader said: “We have started the bus. There will be some punctures and hiccups. We hope to launch in another three years.”
At the function, Nurses Association members highlighted their problems. Bhavani, president of the Association’s Mangalore branch, said nurses were finding it difficult to attend to pregnant women coming to the Lady Goschen Hospital that was functioning in half of the space available following construction of new building. Another nurse asked the Minister to make permanent the services of personnel working under the National Rural Health Mission and other health projects on contract basis. Vijay Nayak, a member of the Association, said nurses have been denied of promotion. Mr. Khader assured nurses of considering their demands. He said a meeting of officials and nurses would be called between June 23 and June 29 to discuss about their demands. Mr. Khader asked nurses to work towards improving health index of Dakshina Kannada by taking steps to prevent infant mortality and maternal mortality.
Mr. Khader presented Florence Nightingale awards to Victoria Jannet, a nurse retiring from Government TB Hospital in Moodshedde on July 31; Kamala Hugar, a nurse superintendent from Vani Vilas Hospital Bangalore; and Vishalakshi J, a nurse superintendent from Government Wenlock Hosptial, who retired from service in 1996.
