Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JS)
Mangaluru, Aug 12: Legislative Assembly speaker Kagodu Thimmappa on Wednesday August 12 inaugurated the new peritoneal dialysis unit and hemodialysis unit at Wenlock Hospital here, in the presence of health and family welfare minister U T Khader and other dignitaries.
Addressing the gathering, Kagodu Thimmappa said, "Health is very important. Human being is the most supreme of all species. It is appreciable that this government is aiming at improving the health of the people. We can have lot of wealth, but it is of no use if we do not have good health.
"People from neighbouring districts also come to Wenlock hospital. In this direction, providing facilities to those patients is also essential. There are superintendents in every hospital. The first thing they should do is check the cleanliness in the premises of the hospital, washrooms etc. They should choose a security guard to keep watch on those who spit on the walls and floors of the hospital. These security guards should catch such people and make them spit in the dustbin kept outside the hospital," he added.
Lauding U T Khader, he said, "There is a shortage of doctors and in this direction the health minister has taken necessary steps. I congratulate him on solving this problem. Khader has done a good job by starting generic stores in every district hospital. If hospitals are clean then doctors and staff will have a good environment to work in. Public representatives have a greater role in developing the health system and they need to take more interest in this direction."
U T Khader said, "We have started this dialysis centre in order to help the poor people. Expensive dialysis makes them poorer still. But here they can undergo the procedure free of cost. We will implement all the projects one by one. We have increased the doctors' salary and thus many doctors have already applied for posts and they would be recruited soon. A stipend of Rs 38,000 will be given for MBBS doctors and Rs 42,000 for PG doctors who undergo rural service.
"In all the district hospitals, 10-bed dialysis units have been started. Karnataka is the only state where both APL and BPL card holders are included under health schemes. I want to thank the chief minister for this. I thank Kagodu Thimmappa for inaugurating these new units," he added.
Chief general manager of Karnataka Bank Mahabaleshwara Bhat was felicitated for the Bank's contribution in setting up the new dialysis units.
Dr M Ramakrishna Rao, district health and family welfare officer welcomed the gathering while Dr Erappa thanked.
DC A B Ibrahim, ZP vice-chairman Sathish Kumpala, MUDA chairman Kodijal Ibrahim, ZP CEO Srividya, director of health and family welfare department Vaman Dev and others were present.
Answering questions from media persons, speaker Kagodu Thimmappa said, "The health ministry is a very big ministry as I have handled it before. I give suggestions to Khader. There has been growth in this ministry but the need of the hour is to cope up with the needs of the new generation. There should be deeper involvement. I am satisfied with Khader's work but I expect still more from him."