Community health centres to be strengthened under new prgm

Centre today launched an initiative which aims to achieve high levels of sanitation, hygiene and infection control practices in and around public health care facilities in country.
Financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh will be given to the community health centres (CHCs) located in 708 Open Defecation free (ODF) blocks so that they can be strengthened under the 'Swachh Swasth Sarvatra' initiative.
The programme was launched by Union Health Ministry in collaboration with Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation and Human Resource Development here.
Noting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked all ministries to work in collaboration and synergy and not in silos, Union Health Minister J P Nadda said that launch of this initiative was a step in that direction.

"The objective of the 'Swachh Swasth Sarvatra' is to strengthen community health centres (CHCs) in 708 Open Defecation free (ODF) blocks across country to enable them achieve higher levels of cleanliness and hygiene to meet Kayakalp standards.
"Similarly, the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation will help the gram panchayats, where Kayakalp-awarded Primary Health centres (PHCs) are located, to become ODF," Union Health Minister J P Nadda said.

According to a health ministry official, the financial assistance will act as an added incentive for various blocks and health facilities to achieve ODF status and higher standards of hygiene and sanitation.

On the occasion, Nadda along with the HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar released an illustrated booklet 'Swasth Bacche Swasth Bharat' which through pictures would provide tips to school children about leading a healty life and importance of hygiene.
"Achieving cleanliness is not all about building infrastructure and toilets. It is achieved through change in mindset and by focusing on improving behaviour.
"And students here can play an important role as they can learn how to lead a healthy lifestyle and how to maintain sanitation and in turn can go home and educate their parents," Javadekar said.
The initiative, a part of the Swachh Bharat Mission, under the National Health Mission was launched to commemorate Good Governance Day, and is focused on the twin objectives of constructing toilets and enabling behavioural change with the goal of making India ODF by October 2, 2019.

The Health Ministry, in May last year, launched the Kayakalp Award Scheme under which public health facilities are awarded based on their performance on various parameters, including sanitation, cleanliness and infection control.