Panchkula, April 4
The state Health Department would focus on eliminating tuberculosis and AIDS by educating the masses. This was stated by the state Health Minister, Mr M.L. Ranga, at a press conference, on the occasion of World Health Day observed by the department, here today.
He said the TB control programme would be extended to seven districts of the state in the coming year under the Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTBCP).
Having achieved success in three districts under the scheme funded by the Government of India, Mr Ranga said that the rest of the districts would also be covered in the next financial year.
“Our biggest problem is that of increasing population in the state. We are planning to set up a state population commission to address the problem. Chaired by the Chief Minister, the other members of the commission will include journalists, doctors and non-government organisations which can give suggestion to check the rise,’’ Mr Ranga said.
Health melas would also be organised at the primary health centres in districts once in two months to educate the public about family planning and birth control methods. He said the setting up of a senior citizens’ hospital was also being considered.
He concluded on the note that though a lot was being done to educate the masses of the threat presented by AIDS, there was still a need to step up action and create an awakening on the issue.
Mr Ranga said that a vanaspati park would be created at a cost of Rs 5 crore in the Morni block to encourage ayurvedic treatment and that the Health Department was looking into the requirement of a CT scan machine at the general hospital in the city.
Earlier, inter-department games, which included races, tug-of-war and shot put, were organised at the office of the Director General Health Services, Dr P.L. Jindal, to mark World Health Day.
