The last two years were highly productive for the health sector with a series of ventures being initiated for the general upliftment of the sector. When compared to other States, the infant mortality rates and maternal death rates are less in Kerala, which can be considered as the biggest achievement. The primary goal of the Government is to resolve certain issues of concern still prevailing in this sector. We have enough number of Primary Health Centers (PHC) and sub-centers. A sub-center has a junior public health nurse and a Junior Health Inspector (JHI). Also we have community health centers, taluk hospitals, district hospitals, general hospitals and medical colleges. We already have five medical colleges and a few are in the pipeline. But the unfortunate part is that sixty seven percent of Keralites still depend on private hospitals for their day to day needs neglecting this large health care chain. This situation has to change and the Government is trying hard to bring about a positive change in this direction. The advent of ‘modern lifestyle diseases’ like diabetics, Blood Pressure, Cholesterol, Thyroid, Cancer etc. with the life style diseases and non-communicable diseases is another issue.
We need a comprehensive trauma care facility in view of the increasing death rate due to road accidents and other accidents. The factors like lack of standard ambulances, the mode of bringing the affected one to the hospital and the dearth of most modern equipments for treatment should be addressed on apriority basis. A good trauma care facility and emergency medicine departments can reduce this death rate if the first aid is given properly. It is a fact that our government has taken up various projects in health sector than during the last two years.
The ‘Ardram Mission’ and its activities are focused mainly on the health sector. The objectives of Ardram Mission are making hospitals patient friendly, reducing the expenses of treatment and making hospitals hi-tech in all the sense. For this, health care centres have been divided into PHCs and sub-centers of panchayats, CHCs of community development blocks, taluk, district and general hospitals.
We are planning to convert PHCs to Family Health Centers (FHC) which will have three doctors instead of single doctor and four nurses in the place of two. A state of the art laboratory, Shwas clinic, Aswas clinic and an observation room will be there. Mini gym or yoga center, pre-checkups, rest rooms will also be provided. Initially we have selected 170 centers and 830 posts have also been created. Out of 170 centers 75 have been inaugurated and has started working. 103 centers have started working, but official inauguration is yet to be done. Rest of the centers will start working soon. Next year we plan to take up 500 centers for conversion to FHCs.
CHCs and taluk hospitals are being modernized. We would make the palliative care in CHCs more efficient. Dialysis centers have started functioning in forty four taluk hospitals. District hospitals will be converted to Super Specialty hospitals with the inclusion of Cardiology, Nephrology and Urology departments. Cath labs are being installed in eight district hospitals. Minor heart surgeries can be done here. It is an all time record that 4300 posts have been created in health sector alone over the last two years.
Medical Colleges will be made centers of excellence. Developmental activities are progressing in all Medical Colleges. Surgical Oncology departments in medical colleges will be improved. 105 posts have been created in Oncology Department itself. Master plans have been submitted to the Government for availing fund from KIIFB. An amount of 350 crores has already been given to Kalamassery Medical College.
A variety of developmental initiatives are happening in the AYUSH Department also. International Ayurveda Research Center with all modern facilities will come up in Kannur soon. Steps have been taken to enhance the efficiency of ayurveda colleges. An International Unani Center has also been planned. We have also announced the implementation of SDG (Sustainable Development Goals).
The main objectives under this are to decrease the maternal mortality rate from sixty seven to thirty percent by 2030, child mortality rate from twelve to eight percent by 2020 and the eradication of Leprosy, Tuberculosis, etc. The expert groups constituted for the same are working actively to realise these goals. The Department of Women and child Welfare has taken innovative steps to create awareness regarding prevention of harassment against women. It is unfortunate that women are still being subjected to various kinds of harassment at home. The Government has taken a serious note of this and has initiated various progammes for curbing this trend. The campaign ‘Sadhairyam Munnottu’ aims to spread the awareness in all districts regarding this issue. Discussions and seminars will also be conducted.
The Kerala State Women’s Development Corporation Ltd (KSWDC) has proposed to provide Entrepreneurship Training Programmes to widows within the age group of 18 to 55. This is to ensure economic development of widows by extending financial and consultative assistance to start business ventures. KSWDC has plans to launch ‘Vanitha Mithra Kendra,’ a working women’s hostel cum short stay home, in all districts. This will go a long way in finding a solution to the shortage of women-friendly short stay homes in our State. Many women, who frequent the State for various purposes can make use of this facility for a safe stay. This can also be used for accommodating domestic violence victims, stranded women, destitute or the like just for a single night.
