Health mission gets a five-year extension

The Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry has extended the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) for another period of five years, and thereby ensured continuation of employment for hundreds of doctors and nurses working under the Mission.

The Mission, launched in April 2005, was scheduled to conclude by March this year. The extention of the project would benefit 69 doctors (MBBS) and 720 Ayush doctors and 3,000 nurses working to implement various projects taken up under the NRHM.

Besides, the projects under the NRHM are now extended to urban areas as well, promising access to healthcare for all in the country, officials said.

Joint Secretary of the Ministry Amithmohan Prasad has directed the State governments to take up projects to bring down maternal and infant mortality rate and to check unbridled growth of population.

The ministry has also suggested use of information technology to ensure speedy and efficient implementation of the projects. ‘Mother and Child Tracking System’ keeps track of health of mother and child while ‘Janani Shishu Suraksha’ programmes will be implemented more effectively, as per the directions of the Ministry.

Special focus on fluorosis
Under the NRHM, the projects to check fluorosis, caused by drinking water with excess fluoride, have been given priority. The funds required for the same should be mentioned in the action plan for the year 2012-13, Prasad has said in his letter to the state governments.
Other aspects of the mission are: developing infrastructure and extending mobile health clinics to all the districts in the State.