The Hindu 21.06.2013
Corporation begins survey of gaps in healthcare
The Chennai Corporation is carrying out a baseline
survey to identify gaps in the existing public health care system, as
part of National Urban Health Mission (NUHM).
The
Union Cabinet, a few weeks ago, approved the Rs. 22,507-crore NUHM that
seeks to focus on the urban poor. The city is expected to consolidate
public health care facilities in slums and extended areas. It is
anticipated that the State will be allocated Rs. 200 crore this year.
The scheme will be introduced as a sub-mission under the National Health
Mission (NHM). The mission will be implemented in 779 cities and towns,
each with a population of more than 50,000, and cover over 7.75 crore
people in the country.
The NUHM aims to improve the
health status of the urban population, focussing on the poor and
disadvantaged sections, by facilitating equitable access to quality
health care through a revamped primary public health care system,
targeted outreach services and involvement of the community and urban
local bodies.
“Most of the Chennai Corporation
dispensaries function during the day now. The detailed project
implementation plan for the city, if approved under NUHM, may lead to
the functioning of more evening clinics that will help poor people,”
said an official associated with the project.
“The
city is fairly well ahead in healthcare. The city’s healthcare
challenges in slums and added areas are likely to be tackled well after
supplementary estimates are approved in September,” the official said.
Under
NUHM, the city is likely to have one Urban Primary Health Centre for a
population of 50,000-60,000, one Urban Community Health Centre for five
to six urban Primary Health Centres, Auxiliary Nursing Midwives (ANM)
for a population of 10,000 and an Accredited Social Health Activist for
500 households. The Centre will fund 75 per cent of the mission and the
State 25 per cent. The Chennai Corporation will be fully involved in the
implementation of the scheme in the city.