Mangaluru: The state government has started a free health kiosk for the benefit of poor people including daily wage workers, drivers and street vendors among others and a demonstration of the same was held near Kadri park on Saturday.

Food and Civil Supplies Minister U T Khader, who witnessed the demonstration, said that the health kiosks would function at Mangaluru City Corporation limits at Jeppinamogaru, Saripalla, Kudroli, Meenakaliya and Krishnapura and at Ullal TMC limits including Thokkuttu bus stand, near Olapete Ambedkar Bhavan, Kotepura and Chembugudde.

Stating that such an initiative in urban areas is a first of its kind in the state, he said that though such kiosks are functioning in Bengaluru and Mysuru slum areas, the kiosks here are functioning in a particular building.

Noting that each unit is established at a cost of Rs 4.3 lakh, Khader said that every unit comprises a check up table, chair, water supply and air conditioning and each kiosk would have a female junior health assistant.

The service will be offered in association with private medical colleges and it will be available between 2.30 pm and 4.30 pm for the time being, he said and added that the service will be available throughout the day at a later stage. In reply to a query, he said that 10 primary health centres in the city have been upgraded under Urban Health Mission scheme.

The services available at the health kiosks include pre-delivery and post-delivery services, pricking injection, installation of IUCD, pregnancy test through Nischay kit, checking hemoglobin level, diabetes test, blood pressure test, sputum collection for TB test, blood sample collection for malaria test, urine test and dissemination of information on different diseases and health schemes.

Mayor K Bhasker, Deputy Mayor Mohammed K, Mangaluru Taluk Panchayat president Mohammed Monu, Ullal TMC president Hussein, District Health Officer Dr Ramakrishna Rao and RCH Officer Dr Ashok were present.