Nationwide launch of NUHM in B'lore on Jan 20

54 health kiosks to be set up in five urban areas in State

The National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) will be launched nationwide by the Union Health Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad, along with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, here on January 20. A mobile health clinic for the urban poor will also be flagged off on the occasion. 

Initially, the State government would launch the NUHM in Bangalore, Mysore, Bagalkot, Mangalore and in Ullal town, Khader told reporters on Friday. He represents Ullal in the Assembly. “We will set up 35 health kiosks/booths in Bangalore, mainly in the slums. The booths will be set up on rented space or 150-sq mtr fabricated shops. Basic medicines will be available at the kiosks and a nurse posted there to attend to patients,” he added. 

As many as 19 kiosks with the same facilities would be set up in the four urban areas. Mysore, Mangalore and Bagalkot would have five kiosks each and Ullal four, Khader said. 

The government would also set up mobile health clinics and post two MBBS doctors (male and female) there. The clinics will change their locations and stay in each place once a week. Eight such mobile health clinics have been approved, according to Khader. Under NUHM, the State government would hire 396 auxillary nurse and midwife and 126 medical officers on contract. The government would also engage the services of 1,530 ASHA workers, Khader said. 

The government had received the Centre’s approval to set up hi-tech labs in the six BBMP referral hospitals in Bangalore. And in Ullal town, a 30-bed Urban Primary Health Centre (U-PHC) would be constructed. In all, the government can construct 10 new PHCs and upgrade 70 existing PHCs under NUHM, according to Khader.