From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Nov 5: Health and family welfare and medical education minister Dr K Sudhakar said it is the responsibility of medical education and health and family welfare departments to take care of the health of six crore Kannadigas and make the state 'Samruddha Karnataka' (affluent Karnataka) to become 'Arogya Karnataka' (healthy Karnataka).
Speaking at the Kannada Rajyotsava programme at the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences on Thursday, he said, “Medical education department is now combined with the health department. Under the health department, 2.50 lac staff are working while 30,000-40,000 under medical education department. Over 3 lac personnel are working together to protect the health of people of Karnataka.”
He said, “As doctors, it is upon us to ward off the misconception that quality of health care is of substandard in government hospitals in comparison with private hospitals. The state government is trying its best to honour the doctors by providing the necessary infrastructure. To complement this, new regulations will be introduced.”
"Kannada Rajyotsava celebration must not be limited to one day. This Naada Habba (State Festival) should be celebrated all year long,’’ he said pointing out that the habit of reading is diminishing among people.
Dr Sudhakar suggested that people must continue reading using smartphones. Books are an important part of personality development.
To encourage reading, one must begin from childhood, the Minister said.
Dr Sudhakar said the formation of Karnataka is a result of a cumulated effort by several in the pre-independent time.
The Kannada language has flourished through the endeavours of poets of Karnataka. The people of the state must follow the golden words of poets like Kuvempu who gave a clarion call to respect and protect Karnataka, he said.
The impression that speaking in the mother tongue is inferior must be changed, he said.
The minister said the state has been handling COVID-19 better than others. The number of COVID infected has reduced in the past 10-12 days. It is important to follow COVID norms during the winter months of November, December, and January as there are festivals too. Doctors must create awareness among people regarding the same.
RGUHS has done good work on COVID control. The university has trained Corona Warriors in a very less time, the minister said.
Health science writers were felicitated on the occasion.
President of Kannada Development Authority TS Nagabharana, Dr S Sacchidananda, vice-chancellor, RGUHS, and others were present.