The State Government has earmarked Rs.204 crore for the construction of the medical college in Karur, according to Health Minister C. Vijaya Baskar.
Speaking to reporters here after declaring open the early intervention centre for children at the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital (MGMGH), he said the government had issued a GO for setting up the medical college hospital. Besides posting a dean, land had been identified. Tender would shortly be called for construction of the hospital.
To a question on shortage of nurses, he said it had been decided to appoint 7,300 nurses within this month out of 38,000 candidates, who took part in the selection process. The selected nurses would be posted at different hospitals across the State.
Mr. Baskar said early intervention centre had been created at 31 hospitals including all medical college hospitals and district headquarters hospitals to provide early treatment for children with congenital disease, vision and hearing impairments and others. It was aimed at screening children up to 18 years for early identification of ailments and diseases including physical and visual disabilities.
The children would be screened for identifying dental caries, night blindness and others. If needed, they would be given follow up action. The centres would have a general practitioner, paediatrician, dental doctor, physiotherapist, speech therapist and others.
When his attention was drawn to outbreak of dengue in a few places including Koppu village in Tiruchi district, he said it had been brought under control. The number of dengue cases had come down this year when compared to last year in the State. Moreover, the State had done better in controlling dengue than many other States in the country. However, health officials with the participation of local bodies had been asked to take preventive measures to create awareness among the people of destroying dengue breeding sources.
Earlier, the Minister, accompanied by the Director of Public Health K. Kulandaisamy inspected the functioning of milk bank at the MGMGH.
Later, Mr. Baskar visited the dengue hit Koppu village and Primary Health Centre at Kuzhumani, where 19 school boys were being treated for fever. He directed officials to step up preventive measures and create awareness in villages.
Government Chief Whip R. Manoharan, Member of Parliament P. Kumar, Collector K.S. Palanisamy, Commissioner M. Vijayalakshmi, Medical College Dean M.K. Muralidharan, and Deputy Director of Health I. Raveendran accompanied the Minister.
