The Uttar Pradesh government is planning to launch mobile medical units (MMUs) in 36 more backward districts and centres to take care of newborns in eight medical colleges under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM). The governing body (GB) of NRHM which met under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Anoop Mishra on Thursday approved the proposals for both projects as well as other schemes. A proposal worth Rs 570 crore as additional project implementation plan for Uttar Pradesh under NRHM in 2011-12 was approved by the governing body to be sent to the Centre for final approval,said a statement issued by NRHM. Of the Rs 570 crore,Rs 73.47 crore is for the procurement and operation of 180 MMUs. The government proposes to start five MMUs in each of these 36 districts. The mobile service was first launched under the Mukhya Mantri Mahamaya Sachal Aspatal Yojana on January 15,Mayawatis birthday,this year and is already running in 15 districts. A proposal of Rs 23.4 crore has also been sent for setting up a 100-bedded JE ward in Gorakhpurs Baba Raghav Das Medical College,which the state government had announced on Saturday. A proposal to purchase ventilators worth Rs 1 crore for the neonatal unit of BRD Medical College has already been sent to the Centre for approval. This was the fourth time the governing body the highest-decision making and monitoring body of NRHM met since the implementation of the mission in Uttar Pradesh in 2006. The memorandum of understanding between the state government and the Centre says the body should meet at least once in every three months. The last meeting was held on May 10,before which the governing body had met on January 25 and July 25,2008.
