Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday launched a new health monitoring scheme ‘Gaon Swasthya Samkisha Yojana’ (GSSY) at Karadiha village of Karanjia in Mayurbhanj district. The scheme aims at reviewing all health schemes being implemented in the rural areas of the State.
Highlighting the structure of the scheme, Patnaik said it is an innovative programme which would help monitor the health sector in a better way. “There will be at least one Gaon Swasthya Committee in every village which would keep the track of day-to-day activities of the officials entrusted to implement the health schemes,” he said.
The objectives of GSSY are to improve the efficiency of community health services in rural areas besides creating awareness among the people about their duties.
As per the scheme, each committee would comprise local Sarpanch, Panchayat Samiti member, ward members, ANM, health workers, ICDS supervisors and NGO workers. They would review the health programmes and report to the higher authorities if they find any discrepancies.
The committee would monitor the programmes including Mamata Yojana, Janani Suraksha Yojana, ICDS, schemes for sanitation, immunisation, drinking water, nutrition and disease control.
The Chief Minister said the child mortality rate is a matter of concern and can be brought down only if the people in rural areas are aware of the health related issues. “The committee would also create awareness which would benefit mothers and children,” he said.
Patnaik attended four progorammes in the district. He laid the foundation stone for Karanjia bus terminus and Similipal House in Jashipur and inaugurated KGBV Girls’ Hostel, Tehsil office, police station and road widening project from Karanjia to Satkosia.
He also inaugurated Sapua and Kantiali bridges at Sapua village, OT and a new ward of Jashipur CHC and Rairangpur rural police station building and laid the foundation stone for office of RTO and Driving Testing Track.