Malappuram:
Developing and upgrading primary and family health centres are the priority of the Left government, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Saturday, while dedicating various projects under the health department, including the reconstructed family health centre at Vazhakkad, which was destroyed in the floods of 2018.
During the online inauguration, Vijayan pointed out the significance of such centres in Kerala and said the government is committed to the vision under the 'Aardram' scheme.
''In our second tenure, we have prioritized the strengthening of public health institutions as part of the 100-days action plan.
Projects such as Vazhakkad are a booster for our efforts,'' he said.
The family health centre, which caters to the medical needs of around 75,000 outpatients annually, was reconstructed as part of the CSR initiative of UAE-based VPS Healthcare.
The healthcare group, founded by NRI entrepreneur and Kozhikode-based Dr Shamsheer Vayalil, had pledged to rebuild the medical facility ruined in the floods.
Health Minister Veena George said it was a proud moment for the state that a PHC destroyed in the floods was upgraded to what she described as the best and the biggest such facility in the nation.
''We extend our sincere thanks to Dr Shamsheer and his team for their noble efforts. It is sure that the state-of-the-art facility, equipped with advanced technology, will cater to the needs of the people.
The health centre at Vazhakkad is the most advanced such facility in India and the health department will initiate all measures to sustain the standard and quality of services,'' she said.
In addition to the modern laboratory, advanced imaging department, and other facilities at the centre, it has an open gym, play area for children and options for other organized activities to promote a healthy lifestyle.
Veena George further said her department was working on various initiatives, like preparing for a COVID third wave, reducing lifestyle diseases within five years and improving medical institutions, to strengthen the health infrastructure in the state.
The minister said vigilance against COVID should not be given up and in this regard hospitals were being equipped and strong measures were being put in place to deal with any third wave of the virus.
She also said efforts would be made to reduce the incidence of lifestyle diseases in the state within 5 years.
The minister further said that medical colleges will be made the best institutions and district and general taluk hospitals would be strengthened.
She said that in the two months since the present government came to power, various health projects have been implemented vigorously.
Referring to the high quality of health infrastructure in the state, she claimed that 121 facilities here have received National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) recognition.
She further claimed that the state has the highest number of urban primary health centres which have received NQAS recognition.