New Delhi, May 15 (IANS): The union health ministry on Friday launched a special scheme to promote cleanliness, hygiene and infection control practices in public health care facilities, an official release said.

Launching the initiative named "Kayakalp", Health Minister J.P. Nadda said: "The initiative will encourage every public health facility in the country to work towards standards of excellence to help the facilities stay clean and hygienic,".

He also released the Swachchta guidelines for public health facilities.

"The initiative towards total 'Swacchta' in public health facilities is aimed towards building confidence of the users in public health facilities, provide quality service and encourage team work", he said.

"This does not apply only to physical cleanliness, but to develop and put in place systems and procedures for activities such as bio-waste disposal or protocols," he added.

Nadda said that the objectives are to promote cleanliness, hygiene and infection control practices in public health care facilities and to incentivize and recognize those facilities that show exemplary performance in adhering to standard protocols of cleanliness and infection control.

He invited various stakeholders, people, NGOs and voluntary organisations to participate in this endeavour and share the responsibility for cleanliness of the health facility.

The minister also announced five awards under this scheme for the best two district hospitals in each state, two community health centres or sub-district hospitals and one primary health centre in every district.