Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (CLP)
Mangaluru, Dec 5: In a major facelift, seven new facilities including a modernized and spacious mortuary were inaugurated at Wenlock government hospital here on Friday December 5.
Sewage treatment plant (STP) built at a cost of Rs 1.2 crore, a fully equipped mortuary at a cost of Rs 20 lac, emergency ward built at Rs 15 lac, an X-ray unit built at a cost of Rs 47 lac, DOT plus ward - Drug Resistance Tuberculosis (DRTB) Centre at Rs 10 lac, dental care sub-units set up by AJ Institute of Dental Sciences, and Club Foot Care Centre built in association with Cure International India Trust were opened in the hospital premises.
Health and family welfare minister U T Khadar, district incharge minister Ramanath Rai, minister for youth affairs and sports Abhaychandra Jain, MLA J R Lobo, MLC Ivan D'Souza, ZP vice-president Satish Kumpala, ZP CEO Tulasi Maddineni, and deputy mayor Kavita inaugurated each of the facilities.
Addressing the gathering, Ramanath Rai said, "Health is wealth; when we are healthy, we feel satisfied with life. Our government hospitals are providing good service to people in our district. Also, many well-known doctors of India are from our district, which is a matter of pride for us. We have to work hard to retain the trust of people by improving our facilities. So far many facilities have been inaugurated and many more are on the anvil. Various organizations are also lending support to Wenlock in improving standards."
"Diseases like polio have been eliminated completely, and even malaria is being controlled. But even as doctors are becoming more specialized, the new diseases are also getting more complex. Let us work together to maintain the trust people have reposed on government hospitals and work hand in hand with other organizations to provide better facilities," he added.
U T Khadar said, "People come to Wenlock hospital with great trust and we have to ensure that they walk out of the hospital cured and with satisfaction. Earlier, the mortuary here was only for the dead, there was no place for visitors. The upgraded mortuary is one of the best in the state, spacious with drinking water facilities, seating arrangement, restrooms and other amenities."
Stressing on the need to maintain cleanliness and hygiene in the hospital, he said, "The cleanlines in the hospital premises that I have seen today must be maintained on all days. I concentrated more on providing facilities to the hospital rather than on enhancing its looks. The hospital will be beautified later."
He further said, "There are already eight dialysis machines and more will be installed soon. Dialysis centres are also set to come up in Kundapur, Udupi and Puttur. Also, in the coming days a 24x7 pharmacy will be opened in Wenlock hospital.
"There is a lot of corruption in the country, even in the medical field. People lack efficiency and committment in doing their work. To tackle this problem and to boost efficiency in healthcare,
motivation and orientation programmes will be organized for doctors and nurses.
District surgeon and Wenlock hospital superintendent Dr Rajeshwari Devi delivered the keynote address, wherein she spoke about the various facilities in Wenlock, its activities and achievements.
Dr Bharat Shetty of AJ Institute of Dental Sciences, representative of Cure International, and others were honoured on the occasion for their support in setting up the new facilities.
Jayaram Poojary compered the event.
Dr Eerappa S welcomed while Julian Saldanha proposed the vote of thanks.