Govt according top priority to rural health schemes: Minister

Kakinada, Feb 17 (UNI) Union Minister of State for Defence M M Pallam Raju today said the Centre and the State Government were according top priority to rural health programmes through the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and Rajiv Arogya Sri schemes.

Inaugurating a three-day free 'mega health camp' here, Mr Raju asked the district administration to give wide publicity to the camp to create health awareness among the rural people.

He said the service of specialists would be made available to the patients in the camp.

East Godavari District Collector M Subrahmanyam, present on the occasion, said under Rajiv Arogya Sri Scheme, 1,308 critical surgeries were performed at a cost of Rs 6.40 crore.

Mr Raju said the Centre had sanctioned Rs 13 crore to the district under the NRHM.

About 100 doctors, including general physicians, surgeons, dermatologists, cardiologists, dentists and neurologists, and over 200 para-medical staff would screen the patients and render necessary medical advise.

UNI XR/AP SJ NC RS1918