Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has asserted the United Democratic Front government’s commitment to providing the full spectrum of health services for all citizens in Kerala.
Speaking after presenting the first ‘Arogya Keralam’ awards at a function here on Tuesday, he said the comprehensive health programme was designed to integrate decentralised planning with health care. In his presidential address, Health Minister V.S. Sivakumar stressed the importance of grassroots-level, participatory programmes for disease prevention. He said local bodies had a key role to play in controlling lifestyle diseases. Mr. Sivakumar said the Health Department had drawn up projects to the tune of Rs.1,500 crore for the current year. Ministers M.K. Muneer, K.C. Joseph and Manjalamkuzhi Ali; district panchayat president Remani P. Nair; Planning Board member C.P. John; and Director of Health Services P.K. Jameela were present.
