IMPHAL, February 11: The Churachandpur District Hospital has received the Kayakalp Award for 2015-16 initiated to promote cleanliness, hygiene and infection control practices in public health care.
The award which carries a cash prize of Rs 50 lakh was handed over by Health minister Phungzathang Tonsing during an awards distribution ceremony at the JNIMS Hospital conference.
Thoubal District Hospital recieved a commendation award carrying Rs three lakhs.
Speaking on the occasion, Phungzathang Tonsing said the day is a remarkable day. Today our hospital and health care centres are clean maintaining hygiene and sanitation and controlling infection, thanks to the concerted efforts of all stakeholders, he added.
The quality of the health services provided in the State has also improved a lot, he asserted.
The minister said during previous visits, the washrooms in the Churachandpur and Thoubal district hospitals were pathetic, but today they are well maintained.
This has been possible because of the concern showed by the Chief Minister, he said, and added that under the initiative of the Chief Minister the cleaning of the hospitals were outsourced to outside parties instead of keeping clearers as hospital staff.
He said we had proposed to the Central government to conduct a cleanliness programme in the hospitals with a prize incentive of Rs 50 lakhs following which the Kayakalp Award was introduced under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Mission).
What we have achieved today is not just an achievement of the Health department but it will also benefit the general public, he added.
The health department is working day and night throughout the year to improve the quality of service provided, he added.
This year the award has been introduced only for the hospitals, but from next year it will also be introduced for the PHCs, CHCs and other health centres, he said appealing to the health centres to encourage cleanliness.
The minister also observed that Manipur achieved the second best Infant Mortality Rate this year in the country.
Both the RIMS and JNIMS are providing excellent services in the health sector in the region, he said adding that both the institutes have top expert doctors in various fields.
All these achievements have been possible only because of the hard-work from all stakeholders, he added.
He said considering the Health sector to be top priority, the Chief Minister and the State cabinet have decided to upgrade all hill district hospitals in Ukhrul, tamenglong, Chandel and Senapati to 100 bedded from being 50 bedded.
Construction of the district hospitals are targeted to be completed before the coming general election, he said adding further that the Centre has sanctioned Rs 5 crore each for timely completion of the hospitals.
He further said that there is still a shortage of doctors and the government has also decided to increase the number of doctors by three times than the present number. He continued all vacant posts of other health related staff including nurses for the health centres will be filled.
The function was also attended by Health commissioner PK Singh and director O Ibomcha among others.