NEW DELHI: To understand and document the success story of the southern States in maternal and child health care and to replicate it in the Empowered Action Group (EAG) States, the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry has approved a proposal to establish a model hospital-cum-research and training facility in Tamil Nadu.

A similar state-of-the-art centre would also be set up in Kerala, upgrading an existing facility to provide the best maternal and child health care to vulnerable groups and weaker sections.

The two centres will also serve as research, training and skill upgrading centres as Tamil Nadu and Kerala have demonstrated the best implementation of the Reproductive Child Health (RCH) programme.

According to the proposal, approved at the second meeting of the Mission Steering Group, the highest decision making body of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) here on Friday, the success of the southern States would need to be converted into a practicing model of best practices.

Upgrading skills

While consolidating their achievements, such an initiative will facilitate upgrading the skills of nurses, auxiliary nurse midwives, accredited social health activists, para-medical as well as medical staff in the EAG States, who would be attached to these two hospitals.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Anbumani Ramadoss said the Ministry had asked for further inputs from Tamil Nadu and Kerala for further planning.

The estimated cost of establishing a new MCH Hospital in Tamil Nadu is Rs. 100 crore and of upgrading an existing facility in Kerala Rs. 50 crore.

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