8 kiosk dispensaries to be set-up in slums soon

Kiosk dispensaries will soon be set-up in the slums of the district under the National Urban Health Mission (NUHM).

District medical commissioner (DMC) Dr Jasbir Singh told the Hindustan Times on Friday that the dispensaries would provide health care facilities to a large section of migrants and slum-dwellers in the district.

He said Ludhiana had already acquired eight kiosks to set-up these dispensaries.

The DMC said one dispensary would be opened in Khanna and the other dispensaries would be set-up in other slum areas of Ludhiana.

Jasbir Singh further said: “Slum-dwellers usually ignore their health. They find it difficult to visit government hospitals or dispensaries as they are far away from their slums. Therefore, we have decided to provide them all medical facilities under this scheme.”

He said the project would reduce the incidence of health hazards and deter slum-dwellers from visiting quacks. The DMC said these dispensaries would provide vaccination, extend child care and maternal care and supply medicines. He said medical practitioners and auxiliary nurse midwives would be deployed at each dispensary.

Dr Singh added, “We have finalised eight kiosks and applied for electricity connections for these kiosks. After establishing the eight dispensaries, we hope to set-up 28 more dispensaries in the district.”

Dr Maninder Singh, district family welfare officer said, “We have identified a few places near Sector 32, Chandigarh Road, Rajiv Gandhi Colony Focal Point, Haibowal Road and Sherpur. The other potential areas will be identified soon. In Khanna, a dispensary will be set-up near the railway station. We hope to get this project started within a month.”