From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Oct 8: Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar met Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya in New Delhi on Friday along with Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and sought additional allocation of funds under National Health Mission (NHM) for upgradation of Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in the State.

Speaking to media after the meeting, Dr Sudhakar said Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya appreciated Karnataka's efforts in Covid-19 management.

Karnataka has an inventory of over 50 lakh doses of vaccine and has achieved 82% coverage in administering the first dose and 37% coverage in second dose among eligible population.

The State Government is planning to upgrade and modernise all PHCs in the state and we have sought additional allocation under NHM to implement it.

Dr Sudhakar said the Union Government has responded positively and the State Government has also discussed about strengthening trauma care, secondary and tertiary care in all districts across the State.

He said State Government is awaiting Centre's guidelines on vaccine for children.

The vaccine for children is in trial phase and the Centre will soon decide after discussing with vaccine manufacturers.

“We must not let our guard down against pandemic and the State Government has released guidelines for festival season. We are continuing to conduct about 1 lakh tests every day and the positivity rate is less than 0.4%. So there is no need to panic,’’ said Dr Sudhakar.