Dashboard to ensure functioning of devices at AP government hospitals

VIJAYAWADA: AP medical and health minister Vidadala Rajini on Wednesday issued orders that each medical equipment available in government hospitals across the state should remain operational. She asked officials to set up a special dashboard at the state-level, so that the status of each device at every government hospital in Andhra Pradesh can be known.

Reviewing performance of National Health Mission with top officials of the state on Wednesday, Rajini underlined that if the goal of Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy is making available all medical facilities is to be achieved, it becomes the responsibility of officials to ensure that all devices made available work. “Their working should be continuously monitored,” she advised.

The minister reiterated that government hospitals should make efforts to encourage natural parturitions. For the purpose, pregnant women must be made aware of special yogasanas at the various health centres, more so in rural areas. She asked officials to identify the number of private hospitals where parturitions are through surgeries and initiate measures to promote natural parturitions.

Rajini directed officials to take steps for allocating separate rooms at all government hospitals and clinics for mothers to breastfeed their children.

She wanted medical staff to be vigilant about diseases like iodine deficiency, sickle cell anaemia, thalassemia and anaemia. She ordered that haemoglobin levels of all adolescent girls be checked once every three months. “Special attention must be paid to girls with low haemoglobin and preventive measures taken,” she underlined.
The minister asked officials to examine the possibility of providing ultrasound scanning equipment to check for specific diseases by acquiring the same through PPP mode under Arogyasri. She appreciated UPHCs in the state for supplying additional types of medicines to people visiting them for treatment.

Chief secretary (Medical & Health) M.T. Krishna Babu, Health commissioner J. Nivas, NHM SPM Dr. Ravikiran and state nodal officer D.H. Ramireddy were among those present at the review meeting.