Mangaluru : Deputy Commissioner Dr K G Jagadeesha on Wednesday set a task for the district health and family welfare officials to make preparations to emerge numero uno during the next year’s annual Kayakalp award.

The award instituted by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is conferred on the best district and taluk hospitals, besides community and primary health centres for maintaining hygiene, cleanliness and infection control practices at public health care centres.

Addressing the doctors and health workers, during the repeat prize distribution ceremony held at his office here, the deputy commissioner directed the health officials from the district to form a team among themselves and visit the Vijayapura district hospital that won first prize for the current year. “The team should submit a report within one month and try its best in incorporating the best of the facilities provided in the hospital that has reached the top slot. Similarly, at the local-level, the taluk hospitals and community and primary health centres that scored lesser points should visit those hospitals and centres rated best,” the officer instructed.

Eventually, an action plan should be prepared and submitted to the district administration, underlined the commissioner assuring all required help in improving the performance for the next year, Dr Jagadeesha added.

M R Ravi, Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer, said awards and recognitions should be treated as incentives that boost the level of responsive and accountable administration.

Shaul Hameed K, chairperson of the Public Health Standing Committee at the Zilla Panchayat, reminded that the undivided Dakshina Kannada district boasted of the most number of medical colleges attracting students from different countries.

In all, Dakshina Kannada district has won nine prizes at different levels under the Kayakalp Award. They are the best taluk hospital award for community health centre, Moodbidri (92.20%), and primary health centre (98%) at Bondel in the city. The district Wenlock Hospital (89.80% score), Lady Goschen Hospital (72.40%), taluk hospitals at Belthangady and Puttur, community health centre at Vittal, primary health centres at Ganjimutt and Shirthady have won consolation prizes.

The total prize money is Rs 25 lakh, of which 75% will be spent on infrastructure and 25% on incentives for those who strove for winning the award.