Thiruvananthapuram: The Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan lend a milestone boost to the state’s health sector, inaugurating 75 new Family Health Centres and dedicating it to the people. The feat is part of government's Ardram project to bolster state's health system.This is a historic day for the state’s health sector, said CM during the online inaugural. The aim is to reach broader health services closer home, the minister said, adding that, the new centres will prove to be relieving to a large extent amid ongoing pandemic as well.
In the Phase-1 of the Ardram project, 170 Primary Health Centres were converted to Family Health Centres and 503 were similarly ramped up to become family health centres, in the project’s second phase. The remaining health centres too are being up-scaled and will be laid open to public shortly, said CM.
As surges in covid continue, the death rate is likely to rise further and government is adopting added measures to prevent that scenario. Public are requested to observe pandemic guidelines strictly in coming days. It is such vigil upkept that helped our state earn international credits for containing the spread, said CM. And, the primary health care centres played a vital role towards that achievement, the minister added.
The breakup for new Family Health Centres in state is: Thrissur 19; Thiruvananthapuram 12; Malappuram 8; Pathanamthitta 6; Palakkad 6; Kollam 5; Kozhikode 5; Kottayam 4; Ernakulam 4; Alappuzha 3; Idukki 1; Kannur 1; Kasaragod 1.
When a Primary Health Centre transforms to Family Health Centres there is a complete makeover. In place of 1 doctor up to 2 pm noon, the new facility will have 3 doctors on duty right up to 6 pm in the evening. The number of staff right from the lab technician level is scaled up considerably. And, all these in turn spells advance in state’s development and basic infrastructure. Also, treatment for various health conditions ranging from lifestyle diseases to depression to respiratory disorders would be available at the newly opened centres. Women and children will receive added care.
