CHCMI adopted in 7 blocks of Malda

MALDA, Aug 25: The panchayat and rural development department has introduced the Community Health Care Management Initiative (CHCMI) project in seven blocks of Malda district. The department would introduce the project in the other eight blocks gradually. The CHCMI has set up its networks up to booth level in many panchayat areas to make people aware of the ‘definition of health’ and has appointed fresh workers on contract basis jobs. Two project co-coordinators and supervisors would monitor the network, forming booth health committees where the self-help groups would play an active role after receiving training. The network would provide health services to the rural people.District health officials think that it would function properly and increase the number of institutions implementing the Central government's Janani Suraksha Yojona (JSY). A recent survey revealed that many pregnant women do not go to health centres for delivery due to bad road conditions. To sort out the problem, booth committees (Gram Samsad) are buying rickshaw vans under the CHCMI project to transport pregnant women to the nearest health centre for delivery. The objective is to reduce maternal and infant mortality rate. In Malda mortality rate of baby (male) is 75 and (female) 89 per 1000. In order to reduce the mortality rate, the Centre sponsored JSY was introduced in 2006, but was suspended in many hospitals following objections from the nursing staff. n SNS