Health and Family Welfare Minister Pratap Jena dedicated a newly-constructed super speciality 300-bed hospital in the presence of Jharsuguda MlA Naba Kisore Das, WODC Chairman Kishore Mohanty and Odisha lift Irrigation Corporation Chairman Anup Kumar Sai here on Thursday.
The seven-storied building constructed at an estimated cost of `42.23 crore is spread over 30,250 sqft and will also function as the District Headquarters Hospital (DHH).
The Minister also dedicated nine Health Sub Centres at Kolabira, Bandhpali, Sukhasoda, Kusraloi, Gomadera, Bandhbahal, Sripura, Ujjalpur and Kumarbandh. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had laid the foundation stone for the new DHH under the National Rural Health Mission way back on March 4, 2013.
Speaking to mediapersons, Jena said that the existing District Headquarters Hospital at Mangal Bazar will also function as City Hospital and will continue to provide all the services. He said that Chief Minister Patnaik always wants that the people of Jharsuguda get best of healthcare services and accordingly the State Government was working towards establishment of cardiac and cancer hospital in the district.
He said that the State Government was committed to take health services to the doorstep and efforts are being made in the right direction to fulfill the aspiration of the people of Odisha.
In fact, ever since the shifting of the DHH came to the fore, a section of the local population has been opposing the move. They also tried to disrupt the function on Thursday but were pacified after Jena said that the DHH at Mangal Bazar would function as City Hospital.
However, responding to the chaos at the inauguration MlA Naba Kisore Das said that the entire disturbance was handiwork of people with vested interest and cannot derail the development process. He said that protest and opposition is part of democratic process and people have every right to oppose peacefully.