National Rural Health Mission to be launched in South soon

Mysore, Jan 17 (UNI) Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Panabaka Lakshmi today said the National Rural Health Mission would be launched in the Southern States soon.

Speaking to newspersons here, she said the scheme had been launched in 18 northern States in the first phase and would be taken up in the South in the second phase. The Union Government had earmarked Rs 8,207 crore for the purpose for 2006-2007. Four lakh volunteers have been appointed to coordinate among villagers in creating health awareness and providing services across the country.

Ms Lakshmi said three districts in the State would be among the 25 districts selected for the national deafness preventive programme and the services of doctors from the All India Speech and Hearing Institute in the city would be enlisted.

Stating that during the 11th five-year plan period, four study centres on the lines of the All India Speech and Hearing Institute would be set up at Imphal, Chandigarh, Puducherry and Delhi, she said the institute would offer a diploma course in speech and hearing.

Referring to complaints from parents coming from all over the country with their children for treatment in the All India Speech and Hearing Institute about lack of accommodation, she said necessary funds would be released to the institute to build a dharmashala.

Earlier, the Minister went round the Institute and expressed happiness about the treatment given to children.

UNI