A comprehensive health programme, National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) was launched in Bangalore on Monday. The health mission for urban poor, which was launched ahead of 2014 general elections, aims at providing adequate and efficient urban public health delivery system for the urban poor.
According to Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad who formally launched the nationwide scheme, this health mission would cover 779 urban areas with over 50,000 population by March 2015 across the country.
The Health Minister said “The Central Government will share 80 per cent of the cost to implement the programme. primary health centres, sub-centres and referral units, will be strengthened in urban areas and be manned by Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANMs)”.
Speaking to reporters Azad, said “whatever the States can do in two months, we will provide. The next full-fledged budget will be from April.” It is estimated that the NUHM will cover a population of over 220 million people, of which an estimated 77.5 million are poor and vulnerable. The scheme also aims to give more thrust on sanitation, clean drinking water, vector control and other related issues.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the scheme will benefit migrant labourers, slum-dwellers, rag pickers and other such marginalised sections of the society. He also announced that the Government will set up dialysis centres in each taluks in the State.
Karnataka Health Minister U T Khadar said as many as 49 health kiosks (35 for Bangalore, five each for Mysore and Mangalore and four for Ullal town) would be set up which will be operated by a nurse during working hours.