Rural doc's deputation to CMO

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Jan. 28: Rural medical practitioners (RMPs) of Malda submitted a deputation demanding recognition, to the chief medical officer today. The CMOH in turn has urged the RMPs to help in the awareness programmes sponsored by the government in the rural areas. "I am in no position to persuade the government for the recognition of the RMPs but I will arrange training programme for them to work alongside us. We shall watch their performance and then might give accordingly recommend the government to grant them recognition,” the Malda CMOH Dr RR Banik, said today. According to the him, a total of 3,000 RMPs are active in Malda's rural areas. “We can utilise them in the government-sponsored health awareness programmes. We have planned to start a training programme for them to mobilise the force for health awareness campaigning and other health programmes,” he added. According to the CMOH, a proposal to recognise them was sent to the state health department authorities last year but it is yet to be approved.“Many people are dependent on the RMPs for emergency help and when government health workers are not available for one reason or the other,” he acknowledged.