Chief Minister M.K. Stalin will inaugurate 13 new health facilities including a primary health centre (PHC) and four sub-health centres, laboratories and additional Out-Patients (OP) buildings near key towns like Arcot, Sholinghur, Arakkonam and Walajah in the first week of July, bringing an end to the long-standing demand of residents in these areas.
Health officials said that the new health facilities include additional buildings and block level health units and are being given final touches like painting and testing of electrical equipment. Mr. Stalin will virtually inaugurate these facilities in July.
“Additional facilities in health centres and units will help us to provide better care to patients. The ₹1.2 crore new PHC in Kavanur village near Arcot town will bring a relief to patients, who are mostly farmers, in the area,” K. Senthil Kumar, Deputy Director of Health Services (DDHS), Ranipet, told The Hindu.
The new health centre at Kavanur village near Arcot town is a long standing demand of the residents. At present, they trek at least 8-10 kms to reach Thimiri, the nearest town that has a health centre. “As Kavanur village is located near hillocks, senior citizens and women have to risk themselves by walking on rocky terrain to reach Thimiri health centre for treatment. The new PHC will end our ordeal,” said C. Malli, a resident.
The new health centre will have six beds for in-patients, out-patients block, separate cabins for duty doctors, nurses and other staff, a common visitors hall, separate wards for specialised treatment, laboratory facilities, well-furnished pharmacy with additional stocks. Adequate parking space for ambulances and other vehicles will also be provided.
Land for the new health centre in Kavanur, which will be 37th in the district, was donated by a group of residents in the village to the State government to ensure the new centre can be easily accessed.
Health officials said that new sub-health centres will be opened near Thimir, Sholinghur, Arakkonam and Ranipet. At present, the district has 185 sub-health centres headed by Village Health Nurse (VHN) in morning and evening hours. The sub-health centres focus on the health of expectant mothers, children, immunization programmes and other government health schemes in remote villages.
A permanent building for existing PHC in Government Taluk Hospital in Walajah town is also ready for opening. The dilapidated health centre was demolished and rebuilt with additional facilities like CT scan, X-ray and pharmacy. Block-level health units are also built in Arcot and Sholinghur panchayat unions to cover at least 8-12 villages. Additional new buildings at Upgraded PHC in Walajah and Ranipet towns are also waiting for opening, health officials said.
