The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Rural health mission: Tamil Nadu the best performer, says Anbumani

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 02, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Rural health mission: Tamil Nadu the best performer, says Anbumani

Special Correspondent

Key aspects of Tamil Nadu project may be replicated in other States
National Urban Health Mission implementation likely in 3-4 months’ time

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu is the best performer in the implementation of the National Rural Health Mission, Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss has said.

Speaking to press persons after a review of the implementation of the NRHM in Tamil Nadu, Dr. Anbumani said the team from the Health Ministry was very impressed with the State government’s performance in the sector.

The number of deliveries in PHCs had increased dramatically – an extra 77,000 over the last year. This was a significant achievement, Dr. Anbumani said, congratulating the State Rural Health Mission and the Health Department.

The aim of the NRHM, launched by the Prime Minister two years ago, was to reduce infant mortality rate, maternal mortality rate, spread of infections and improve sanitation and nutrition in rural areas, Dr. Anbumani said. In this regard, 5,44,000 Accredited Social Health Activists had been appointed across the country and 1,77,000 Village Health and Sanitation Committees formed. Around 1,46,000 health sub centres would be refurbished, he said.

Special attention was being paid to 18 States, considered backward in terms of implementation of health policies. Some of the key aspects of the Tamil Nadu project could be replicated in other States, according to expert evaluators of the Ministry, he added.

Over the last three years, Tamil Nadu had been allotted Rs.1,043 crore for implementation of the NRHM, with Rs.433 crore allocated during the last financial year. This year, the State had requested for Rs.700 crore, Dr. Anbumani said. The National Urban Health Mission, conceived on the lines of the NRHM, will focus on serving cities and towns in the country with a population of over 1 lakh. It will be implemented in three to four months’ time, the Minister said. A total of 429 towns and cities, with a cumulative population of 22 crore, had been chosen. Of this, 5.5 crore people in slums would be the “high focus” group.

Just like the ASHA, an Urban Social Health Activist will be appointed for every 2,000 people in a slum and for every 100 households, a Mahila Arogya Samiti will be formed by women with a seed capital of Rs.5,000. State Health Minister M.R.K. Pannerselvam, Health Secretary V.K. Subburaj, State Rural Health Mission Project Director Apoorva and Director of Public Health P. Padmanabhan attended the review meeting.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu