Mangaluru: The Dialysis ward of Wenlock Hospital was inaugurated here, on August 12.
State Legislative Assembly Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa, Minister for Health and Family Welfare U T Khader and Mayor Jacintha Alfred inaugurated the Dialysis ward by unveiling the plaque.
An inaugural programme was held thereafter at the IMA (Indian Medical Association) House. The programme began with a prayer song by Sumankala and group.
District Health Officer Dr Ramakrishna Rao welcomed the guests and the gathering. Dr Rajeshwari Devi enlightened all those gathered about the history, operation and future plans of Wenlock Hospital.
The programme was then inaugurated by Kagodu Thimmappa by lighting the traditional lamp along with other dignitaries on the dais.
Speaking on the occasion, Thimappa said that humans are the most excellent beings and for them to excel, health is of utmost importance. “If a person’s health is good, he/she can contribute to the society. There is no use of having wealth, if you do not have good health,” he said.
Further, conveying the need for all officials to be diligent in their work, he said that the superintendent of each hospital should go on rounds around the hospital and check for cleanliness in every corner of the hospital. “Our people have the bad habit of dirtying places by spitting or littering them. It is the responsibility of the heads of the hospitals to see to it that people do not do so when they are inside the hospital premises. We need to bring awareness among the people about the cleanliness in the government hospital. The hospital authorities should take care of the belongings of the premises. The health department is providing medicine free of cost in the government hospitals because the medicine is very expensive. Technicians should be trained well to take care of the dialysis process,” he said.
Chief General Manager of Karnataka Bank, Mahabaleshwara Bhat was felicitated on the occasion for providing assistance to the hospital in setting up the dialysis ward.
Health and Family Welfare Minister U T Khader expressed his happiness over the functionality of the dialysis ward in Wenlock Hospital and said, “Karnataka is the only state in the country that provides a variety of health schemes to the people.” Khader also said that we have opened the model Dialysis ward in Wenlock. Those undergoing Dialysis face financial crisis as it is very expensive. The dialysis ward will help the poor patients to get this facility free of cost.
Government has brought many health schemes to the people. The salary for the doctors have also been increased and Rs 185 crore funds have been released for stipend for MBBS and PG doctors. District level dialysis centers will be opened with 10 beds. We have plans to start dialysis centers in every taluks, the Chief minister has already consented but due to lack of doctors and technicians there is delay. In the district we will start a dialysis centre in Puttur since people of Sullia and surrounding places can easily come to Puttur for dialysis. In the Udupi district we will start a dialysis centre in Kundapur. There are various health schemes available but people are not aware of it. We need to bring awareness among the people from the taluk level. Both the BPL and APL families avail health benefits and Karnataka is the only state to provide health benefits to both categories. He urged the people to make use of the schemes implemented by the government. Children from 0-14 years will be given free treatment. The district health team, will go to every school and identify students who need medical attention. Last year the DSHT had identified 10,000 students and treated them. In the coming days we will have screening camps in Mangaluru and other districts.
He also said that there is dengue and Malaria in the district. If everyone cooperate and keep their house and surroundings clean we can avoid many diseases. When there is stagnant water near our house, we wait for the Mangaluru city corporation to come to clear it. In our district three persons died due to dengue but all the three died after being treated in private hospitals, he said.
Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim, Zilla Panchayat CEO Sreevidya, Ibrahim Kodijal and others were also present.
The Dialysis Ward of Wenlock Hospital is equipped with state-of-the-art dialysis machines and a bed capacity of 12, including 2 beds for HIV/HBsAg patients, supervised by 2 PGs, 4 consultants and specialists as per the requirement of the patients.