By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who turned 74 on Wednesday, has announced that the State Government will set up a Medical College at the district headquarters hospital(DHH), Phulbani in Kandhamal district. Besides this, a 200-bed hospital would be set up in Boudh district headquarters. Land would be handed over to the authorities soon.
The Chief Minister Patnaik’s announcement came after several round ground visits of 5T secretary V Karikeyanpandian and other senior officials to tribal dominated areas in the State.
“State Government’s endeavour is to set up one medical college in each of the erstwhile undivided districts. In that backdrop, a Government medical college and hospital will be set up at Phulbani. The number of beds would be increased to 500 for the aforesaid purpose and a composite campus will come up,” said the Chief Minister.
In Nayagarh, the bed strength would be increased to 250 and additional building for 100 beds will also be constructed at the DHH.Similarly, the bed strength at the Kalahandi district hospital would also be increased by 100 for which a new building will be constructed.
This apart, ambulance and Mahaprayana services would be added to the Rayagada and Nuapada DHHs, the CM further said.For convenience of attendants, all DHHs to have rest sheds, he added.
In addition to this, Rs 15 lakh would be sanctioned to all Rogi Kalyan Samities from CMRF for patient welfare and innovations.The Mo Sarkar initiative would be expanded to five more departments by December 1 and would cover all departments by March 5 next year, the CM informed.
Besides, Rs 10 lakh would be provided for promotion of blood donation activities in Nuapada, Rayagada, Kalahandi, Kandhamal and Boudh districts.
As many as 12,325 units of blood were collected under the BJD’s Jeevan Bindu programme organised at 77 places across the State to mark the 74th birthday of party supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
While the highest number of 772 units were collected from a blood donation camp held at Athagarh, second highest of 616 units and third highest of 511 units were collected from Brahmapur and Rourkela camps, respectively.
In district-wise, Cuttack contributed highest 1,534 units followed by Mayurbhanj 1,239 units and Ganjam 1,195 units on the day.
As many as 372 persons donated blood voluntarily at the Jeevan Bindu camp held at the BJD head office here where the Chief Minister encouraged blood donors and distributed certificates to them.Youths, students and women came up and donated blood at all centres.
