Kerala - Kozhikode   

Rs. 50-crore project for IMCH

KOZHIKODE: The Institute of Maternal Child Health (IMCH) at the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital will be equipped with state-of-the-art facilities under a Rs. 50-crore project of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM). The IMCH is considered a model healthcare centre for women and children, in Malabar.

Preliminary works have begun for the construction of the new 12-storey complex of the IMCH, K. Shashidharan, superintendent, said. The Centre of Excellence being set up under the NRHM is scheduled to be completed in a year. The institute will be shifted to the new building. The formal inauguration of the NRHM project will be in December, according to sources.

The IMCH comprises departments such as gynaecology, paediatrics medicine, surgery, and family planning in addition to haematology, rheumatology, gastroenterology, section for newborns, among others.

Another major proposal under the improvements initiative is the setting up of a sewage treatment plant, a long -time need of the hospital and a demand that has been repeatedly raised by the public living in the vicinity of the MCH.

The third component of the improvement scheme is renovation of the existing building, including electrification and repair works. The works are being carried out by the Government of India enterprise Hindustan Prefab Ltd, sources said.

The IMCH was set up in 1975 with an initial 610-bed strength and now has grown into one of the health centres in Asia reportedly handling the largest number of deliveries. As many as 70 to 120 deliveries take place here on an average, a day. The setting up of a special ward exclusively for leukaemia-afflicted children at a cost of Rs.30 lakh, installing of ultrasound colour doppler to monitor the heart condition of foetus, besides mammography facility are some of the new improvements at the IMCH. The staff strength was increased with the appointment of 50 nurses, 13 nursing assistants and 100 cleaning workers. The bed strength was increased to 740, and 1,100 in-patients were provided treatment here, sources added.

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