Panchayat member files PIL against ‘poor’ health facilities

He has highlighted the figures on health related issues like child mortality rate,perinatal mortality rate,ante-natal care (ANC),quality of ANC visits,delivery care,post natal care,vaccination,childhood illnesses,and the source of medical care in the state. He has stated that one in every 20 children dies within the first year of life,whereas,the figures of perinatal mortality reveal that there are 40 deaths per 1,000 pregnancies. At the same time,one out of eight women in the state delivers a baby without any antenatal care. Only 14 per cent of the well-to-do households use the Public Health Centres as their source of medical care.

To improve the scenario,the petitioner has demanded a direction to the state government to fill up the vacancies and shortfall of health personnel such as auxiliary nurse maids (ANMs),female health workers,male health workers,physicians,surgeons,obstetricians,gynecologists,anesthetist,pharmacists,radiologists,pediatricians and other medical health personals in line with the Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS).

The court has kept the petition for hearing on November 23,according to the petitioner’s lawyer S P Majmudar.