Kayakalp Awards: AIIMS Bhubaneswar gets Rs 2 crore cash prize

Prominent, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar (AIIMS Bhubaneswar) was declared the winner of the Kayakalp Award program for Central Government Institutions under Category B for cleanliness, sanitation, and infection control. The hospital will get an award of Rs 2 crore for the performance.

Last year, AIIMS Bhubneshwar stood as the runner-up winning Rs 1 crore.

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Union Minister for Health, Harsh Vardhan, along with Minister of State for Health Ashwini Kumar Choubey, presented the awards via video conferencing on Tuesday.

As per a recent media report in Odisha TV, among the DHHs, Angul District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) has been awarded as the Kayakalp Winner Hospital while DHH Kalahandi was felicitated as Runners Up Hospital.

Rairangpur Sub Divisional Hospital (SDH) in Mayurbhanj district was felicitated as the Winner Hospital in Sub-Divisional Hospital (SDH)/Community Health Centre (CHC) category for the year 2019-20.

Meanwhile Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) has been awarded the second prize under the scheme. The award was for the category Group A Central government health facilities or hospitals with more than 1,000 beds, reports The Hindu.

Further, the District Hospital Reasi of Jammu and Kashmir has been awarded the first prize of Rs 50 lakh under Kayakalp scheme of the Central Government for spirited efforts and untiring work by the staff in providing quality health services, maintenance of cleanliness and hygiene in and around the premises of the health institutions, which has enabled it to win the coveted title.

UNI reports that expressing her delight over the achievement of the District Hospital, Deputy Commissioner Indu Khanwal Chib congratulated the entire team of the health department for working tirelessly and 24/7 to ensure better healthcare services to the common masses and for maintaining cleanliness in health institutions and their premises.

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The national scheme, intended to encourage and incentivize Public Health Facilities (PHFs) in the country to demonstrate their commitment for cleanliness, hygiene, and infection control practices was launched by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India on 15th May 2015.

Applauding the importance of the Kayakalp scheme Dr Harsh Vardhan said, "Kayakalp has not only been able to facelift the condition of public health facilities but has also made a significant impact in improving the behavior of masses. This paradigm shift is well reflected in the number of 'Satisfied' patients as reported through 'MeraAspataal'.

He continued in this regard, "Importance of Kayakalp initiative has been amply demonstrated during the current COVID pandemic. Public Health system of the country rose to the occasion to manage the global emergency commendably. Mortality rate due to COVID in India has been one of the lowest in the world. Credit of such spectacular performance goes to the commitment of the States, dedication of doctors, nurses, paramedical & support staff and strengthening of hospitals and health centres, undertaken during last couple of years."

Dr. Harsh Vardhan noted significant success under Kayakalp. He said, "The scheme, which saw the participation of 716 District Hospitals and central government institutions in its first year has spread to 26,172 public health facilities now. In the last year 2019-20, the number of Kayakalp facilities has increased to 7,615."

He added, "Encouraged by the success of Kayakalp initiative, MoHFW had collaborated with Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation and launched Swachh SwasthSarvatra (SSS) program, under which, one community health center (CHCs) situated within ODF block receives a one-time grant of Rs. 10.00 lakhs under the NHM for undertaking improvement activities, so that the CHC becomes Kayakalp CHC."

Highlighting the fact that the success stories of Kayakalp are not limited to India, the Minister said, "Kayakalp is an internationally acclaimed, country wide, visionary program. It has also been internationally applauded during 72nd World Health Assembly, held on 20-28th May 2019. The success of Kayakalp is duly recognized in Global Baseline Report 2019 published by WHO, UNICEF and JMP."

Dr Harsh Vardhan said, "The Kayakalp has created a lot of enthusiasm and healthy competition among Govt. Hospitals and it has brought sense of pride, ownership among health providers and involvement of local leaders, communities, NGOs, PRIs, local bodies and private sector hospitals. I am very happy to see steady increase in the number of healthcare facilities achieving the benchmark score and will like to see all the healthcare facilities achieving the benchmark score by year 2022 when we welcome New India on the occasion of 75 years of India's independence."

Shri Ashwini Kumar Choubey said, "Kayakalp has made cleanliness an important part of our life which will lead to a healthy living in all the people. It enhances harmony among people. I congratulate and thank all those who are instrumental in maintaining the cleanliness during the pandemic."

During the event, Dr Harsh Vardhan also reminded about clarion call of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji for Swachhagraha from Rajpath. He said, "Swachh Bharat Mission's (SBM) foundation was laid down on 2nd October 2014. Swachh Bharat Mission in its eighth year of implementation has become a National Movement which has been able to evoke a sense of responsibility and pride in the citizens of country."

He concluded by saying, "I compliment central government institutions for providing clinical leadership in management of COVID patients. Role of states and health facilities has been commendable in providing great ambiance and high Quality COVID care."

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