New Delhi: Municipal Corporation of Delhi has revamped 161 healthcare facilities into Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs) while another 219 centres are at various stages of rejuvenation as part of the civic body’s efforts to strengthen the city’s primary healthcare network.The centres are being developed by upgrading general dispensaries, maternity centres, and mother and child welfare centres as well as by optimally utilising public infrastructure such as community centres and vacant municipal buildings.
“To strengthen the city’s primary healthcare system, we are focusing on rapid expansion of this network with the help of Delhi govt. Earlier, services at these facilities were largely limited to maternal, child and selective OPD care for a defined population group,” said MCD additional commissioner (health) Pankaj Naresh Aggarwal. “After the revamp, Ayushman Arogya Mandirs will function as one-stop primary healthcare centres for all citizens, offering preventive, promotive, curative and rehabilitative services under one roof.” Services include regular health check-ups for pregnant women, management of anaemia and hypertension during pregnancy, post-delivery and lactating mother care, and treatment of gynaecological issues. For children, they provide immunisation against vaccine-preventable diseases, medical screening of students at MCD schools and treatment of common childhood illnesses such as diarrhoea, pneumonia, upper respiratory infections and childhood anaemia.Officials said 60 doctors were provided by Delhi govt in addition to the existing MCD staff. Against a target of 380 AAMs, the centres being developed include 93 maternity and child welfare centres, 39 dispensaries, 31 mobile dispensaries, 18 mother and child care centres, 10 chest clinics and one leprosy home.Special emphasis is being given to counselling for adolescent girls and boys on nutrition and age-specific health issues. Focused interventions include menstrual hygiene education for girls, along with free distribution of sanitary pads.“Counselling is also being provided on family planning, elderly care, screening and management of diabetes, basic mental health services, dental, eye and ENT care, along with free essential medicines and general OPD services,” an official said. AAMs are equipped with enhanced diagnostic and laboratory facilities, offering 14 key tests, including haemoglobin, urine, blood sugar, malaria, HIV, dengue and hepatitis-B. Additional tests will be provided through outsourced laboratories. “Through rapid expansion and upgradation of infrastructure, we are making concerted efforts to bring comprehensive healthcare closer to every neighbourhood,” Aggarwal said.
