Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB/SP)
Udupi, Nov 1: The government district hospital which has been newly built at an investment of Rs 1.4 crore within the premises of the district hospital here, is yet to be officially inaugurated, although its outpatient department has been functional.
As there were instructions from above to make sure that the district in-charge minister inaugurated the hospital, preparations had been made in haste for its official inauguration on October 2. All preparations were in place for the inaugural, but at the last minute, top officials of the department asked the concerned to withhold the programme, explains the medial officer. Thereafter, election code of conduct came into force in October on account of bypoll being held for Shivamogga Lok Sabha constituency, of which Byndoor in the district is a part. Because of this problem, the inauguration had to be postponed.
The old furniture in the previous building stand shifted to the new Ayush building. The Ayush hospital has two wards, one for women and other for men, with ten beds each. This hospital offers different kinds of treatment and is also equipped with a centre of Ayurveda medicines. A number of medicines prepared in traditional way in Kerala are being procured by the centre.
Out of 13 posts sanctioned to the centre, there is need to hire eight more on contract basis. All classes of people get free treatment here. At present, only outpatients are being treated at the facility. Once the hospital becomes fully equipped and operational, and all eight contract staff are appointed, it will be able to serve in-patients too.
The hospital officers Ayurvedica, Unani and Homeopathy methods of treatment. Yoga training centre has also been opened where Yoga is being taught. The department offers different kinds of treatment like Shirodhara, Virechana, Bashpa Sweda, Kati Basti, Karna Poorana etc. Under Unani department, 'Hijama' a treatment in which impure blood is removed from the body, is also made available.
Five doctors, three staff nurses, three therapists and two attendants are currently working here. New wooden furniture has been brought from Tamil Nadu and the hospital is well-stocked of various medicines for treating a number of ailments.
Once the election code of conduct ceases to be in existence, as per the instructions of the deputy commissioner in tune with the protocol, date for its inaugural will be fixed after November 8. Under the National Ayurvedic Mission scheme, eight persons comprising two experts, two pharmacists, two masseurs and two attenders would be appointed thereafter.
It is planned to set up Arogya Raksha Samiti for managing the district Ayush hospital. It is proposed to levy nominal fee for patients in the coming days. Programmes are planned to be undertaken by organizing village visits, and hold programmes there to educate people about making medicines easily with the help of sprouts of plants, said medical officer, Dinakar N Dongre.