Arunachal Pradesh spending Rs 500 crore to upgrade district hospitals: CM

"Our efforts are bearing results. We have reduced the infant mortality rate to 10% and reduced the human resources gap in the health sector from 33% to 6%," he said

Stressing the government's commitment to improving health infrastructure in the state, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Friday said the pandemic was an eye-opener.

Inaugurating the outdoor patient department (OPD) at Kamba community health centre (CHC) in West Siang district, he said that about Rs 500 crore was being spent to develop all the district hospitals of the state.

"The pandemic made us realise how ill-equipped we were in the health sector. Reviewing health infrastructure and services during the pandemic, we were shocked by its condition. Our government then decided with commitment to revive and recondition our health delivery system that could cope with any kind of emergency," he said.

The chief minister said that most of the district hospitals have got a face-lift.

The Bankim Pertin General Hospital at Pasighat, one of the oldest and with the most footfalls, is being developed into a 300-bed facility, he said.

"Our efforts are bearing results. We have reduced the infant mortality rate to 10 per cent and reduced the human resources gap in the health sector from 33 per cent to 6 per cent. Also, institutional delivery has increased manifold," Khandu said.

In the next phase, the state government would be giving face-lifts to the CHCs across the state, he said.

Khandu said that proposal has been submitted to the Centre for upgrading the ANM School in Aalo to a B.Sc nursing college.

"As soon as it is approved, we will start the upgradation work," he assured.

Later, Khandu visited the Kargu Gamgi at Kamba where he offered prayers to Almighty Donyi Polo and other indigenous deities.

He also joined the prayers offered by the Nyibus (priests) for the eternal peace of Jambey Tashi, the MLA of Lumla who died recently.

The believers presented him a collection of indigenous prayers and chants.