186 Dakshina Kannada Health Sub-Centres face Infrastructure challenges: DHO
Mangaluru: In Dakshina Kannada district, a significant number of health sub-centres are operating without their own buildings as out of the 186 sub-centres in the district, only 73 have had land identified for construction, while efforts are ongoing to secure land for the remaining centres.
This information was shared by District Health Officer (DHO) Dr H. R. Thimmaiah during the tri-monthly Karnataka Development Programmes (KDP) review meeting, which was chaired by District In-charge Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao.
Dr Thimmaiah mentioned that tenders have already been floated for construction work at 17 of the identified sites, with plans to call for tenders for 41 more centres in the near future. Minister Gundu Rao stated that each centre has been allocated Rs 65 lakh for construction. Deputy Commissioner Mullai Muhilan M. P. assured that land for the remaining centres would be allotted within the next three months.
The issue of staff shortages in the district’s healthcare facilities was also raised during the meeting. MLC Prathap Simha Nayak highlighted the lack of lab technicians and doctors in Primary Health Centres (PHCs). According to the DHO, eight out of the 72 sanctioned doctor positions in PHCs are currently vacant. Minister Gundu Rao responded by stating that these positions would be filled through the upcoming one-year compulsory rural service for doctors, reports Deccan Herald.
Furthermore, the DHO noted that out of 80 sanctioned lab technician posts, 30 are vacant, though 10 of these positions will be filled shortly. The district is also facing a shortage of 30 staff nurses at Wenlock and Lady Goschen Hospitals, with only nine positions filled so far despite holding interviews.
During the meeting, MLC Ivan D'Souza raised concerns about a family that had not received compensation under the Meenugarara Sankashta Parihara Nidhi scheme following the death of a fisherman. Fisheries Department Deputy Director Dileep attributed the delay to the absence of a post-mortem report. Minister Gundu Rao instructed officials to coordinate with Wenlock Hospital to expedite the compensation process, reports the Daily.
D'Souza also highlighted the poor condition of the road stretch from Valencia to Gorigudda, which affects over 800 nearby households. An official responded that about 50% of the work on the Jalasiri project had been completed. Of the 53-km-long clear water transmission main (CWTM) line, 39 km has been completed, with the remaining 6 km pending due to awaiting permission from the National Highway Authority.
The ongoing efforts to address these challenges reflect the district's commitment to improving its healthcare infrastructure and ensuring that essential services are delivered efficiently to the community.
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