Mangalore to be first in Karnataka to get NUHM project

Talking to presspersons after reviewing the preparations for the formal launch of the scheme, Mr. Khader said that three public health centres will be upgraded.

Mangalore will be the first city in the State to be formally part of the National Urban Health Mission (NUHM), Health Minister U.T. Khader said here on Monday. Announcing that the project will be launched on October 25 here, he said that it would be launched in four other urban centres, including Ullal and Bangalore, subsequently. The city’s health infrastructure is expected to get a big boost under the scheme.

Talking to presspersons after reviewing the preparations for the formal launch of the scheme, Mr. Khader said that three public health centres will be upgraded, while seven new ones would be opened under NUHM.

While Bengre, Jeppu and Surathkal primary health centres would be upgraded, the new ones would be located at Kadri, Padil, Yakkur, Kunjathbail, Shakthinagar, Kulai and Nireshwalya. The new ones would get a grant of Rs. 40 lakh each and the ones to be upgraded Rs. 10 lakh. Each primary health centre will have two doctors and function in two shifts — 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

A note circulated by the Minister said that the staff strength in the primary health centres was 41 against the 160 required for the 10 such centres under NUHM norm. Thus, the city would get 119 more health staff. Recruitment of 68 more personnel for the health centres, including 10 part-time doctors, was sanctioned in 2013-14. The remaining 51 health staff, including four regular doctors, would be recruited to meet the norm.

The Minister said that the district administration would be asked to build a primary health centre in Kulai under the Mangalore Special Economic Zone’s social responsibility funds. The MSEZ had committed to promoting health in its rehabilitation colony, he said.

The city would also get one laboratory for diagnostic tests and a mobile clinic. In addition, it will have five health kiosks with paramedical staff at Jyothinagar, Kudroli, Kudkorigudda, Pachchanadi and Meenakalia. They would be located in places where the concentration or movement of migrant labour is high.

The workers would be able to undergo tests required without losing a day’s labour. One of them could be located near the State Bank bus stand.