Health-at-doorstep programme will be launched soon in DK

Mangaluru: The district health and family welfare department will soon launch the Health-at-your-doorstep programme.

District health and family welfare officer Dr Kishore Kumar M told TOI: “The programme has been inspired by the government’s Grama Vastavya (village stay) programme. On similar lines, we will soon launch a health at your doorstep programme, through which all senior health officials and programme officials will spend a day in a village, to understand health issues there. It is not a health check-up camp, but an attempt to understand the healthcare situation at the village,” he said.

Dr Kishore clarified that they will not be prescribing or giving medicines to patients. “This is an attempt to prevent the spread of an epidemic or control communicable diseases. The entire team will be visiting homes, interacting with villagers to understand health-related issues, visit schools, inspect the source of drinking water, and also spread awareness on various health schemes, including providing unique disability ID.

We will set certain parameters, and look out for skin diseases as well as leprosy and tuberculosis, and also check the quality of medical facilities available in the village. We will get a complete picture of the village, in terms of its health, including if there is a shortage of ASHA and other health workers, as well as spread awareness on sanitation,” he said.

Dr Kishore has held discussions with DC KV Rajendra on the issue. “The only challenge is to get all senior officers available on one particular day, which has to be a working day. Based on our observation, a detailed report will be prepared, and submitted to the deputy commissioner for further action,” Dr Kishore said, adding that the programme is being planned, and will be announced by the end of this month.