Mangaluru : National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) District Programme Management Officer Dr Sadashiv has said a urban health centre under NUHM has been proposed at Bantwal and Puttur respectively.

Speaking at a meeting chaired by Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim here on Monday, he said Puttur and Bantwal ULBs should identify land for the health centres.

To which, Puttur CMC Chief Officer said a building near bus stand in Puttur has been identified. However, the building needs to be renovated.

While Bantwal Taluk Medical Officer said a building belonging to veterinary department at Goodinabali in Bantwal can be converted into urban health centre after renovation. A primary health centre in Ullal is being upgraded into community health centre, he said. Under NUHM, 10 Urban Primary Health Centres (UPHCs) will come up in Mangaluru. This includes upgrading of existing eight RCH, and Family Welfare Centre and two new centres at Ekkur and Shaktinagara.

It has been proposed to arrange the services of cardiology, neurology, oncology, orthopedic, psychiatry, pediatric at the urban health centres (once a week fixed day specialist clinic with the help of medical colleges).

It has also been proposed to organise special camp once a month in urban health centres on a regular basis and also provide geriatric care. The services to be offered at the UPHCs are basic lab services and pharmacy, non communicable disease prevention and control, HIV/Aids control programme, national blindness control programme and national leprosy control programme.

The NUHM DPMO said it has been proposed to constitute 78 Mahila Arogya Samithis(MAS) in Mangaluru, 54 for Ullal, 17 for Bantwal and 18 for Puttur. After the selection of ASHAs of all UPHCs, existing self help groups will be utilised for forming MAS.

The number of ASHA workers proposed for Mangaluru is 122 and 57 have been selected. The places identified to set up health kiosks in Mangaluru city Ullal town are Jyothi Nagara, near Central market, Kudkori Gudda, Pacchanady, Meenakaliya in Mangaluru; Kapika, Kotepura, Alekala and Ombattukere in Ullal.

The Deputy Commissioner said there is a need to build confidence in public on the facilities available at the urban health centres developed under NUHM in Mangaluru city, so that it reaches a large section of the population.

NUHM State Consultant Dr P K Srinivas said that the fund allocation was Rs three crore during 2014-15.

However, Rs 16 lakh was utilised, as the recruitment was not carried for the urban health centres. The NUHM aims at improving accessibility of health care to the people in urban areas.