The Times of India 13.08.2013
Proposal to set up 24 urban public health centres in Allahabad
ALLAHABAD: In an attempt to improve the health status of the urban population, particularly slum-dewellers and other vulnerable sections, the Union government had launched National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) as a sub-mission under National Health Mission (NHM). National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) is the other sub-mission.
National Urban Health Mission would cover all state capitals, district headquarters and other cities and towns with a population of 50,000 and above (as per 2011 census) in a phased manner. Cities and towns with a population below 50,000 would be covered under NRHM.
National Health Mission (NHM) had proposed to set up 24 urban PHCs in the city areas and each urban PHC would offer medical care to approximately 50,000 population. The urban PHC would be located within or near a slum. The timings of urban PHC would be from 12 noon to 8 pm and the services would include OPD (consultation), basic lab diagnosis, drugs/contraceptives, dispensing and delivery, reproductive and child health (RCH) services as well as preventive and promotive aspects of all communicable and non-communicable diseases.
District programme manager, National Health Mission, VK Singh, said: "We have sent the proposal of setting up 24 Urban PHCs under National Urban Health Mission and for the smooth functioning of U-PHCs, the services of 452 urban ASHAs, 72 urban ANMs, 72 staff nurses, 24 lady health visitors (LHVs), 24 public health managers, 24 monitoring & evaluation officers, 24 medical officer In-charge and 24 medical officers would be sought."
Outreach services would be provided through female health workers (FHWs)/ANMs headquartered at the urban PHCs. ANMs would provide preventive and promotive health care services to households through routine outreach sessions.
Expansion of services through outreach to children by covering at least all government schools and anganwadi centres would be held under the U-PHCs. Other schools located in the slums would also be covered. During such sessions, screening for birth defects, diseases, disability and deficiency would be carried out and follow-up actions initiated.
He maintained that NUHM would provide capacity building support to MAS/community-based organizations for orientation, training, exposure visits, participation in workshops and seminars etc. Each link worker/ASHA would have a well-defined service areas of about 1000-2,500 beneficiaries between 200 and 500 households.
During 2013-14, focus would be on establishing programme management structure and building capacities for implementation of NUHM, mapping of slums and public healthcare facilities, preparation of baselines for identifying areas of intervention and investment.
Officials said that one urban primary health centre may be planned for every 50,000 to 60,000 population, In case there is existing infrastructure of urban health clinics, these may be upgraded and strengthened as urban PHCs.Mobile PHCs could be planned for unlisted slums and other FFAs, where it is not possible to establish a new urban PHC as per requirement.
