Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, May 1: Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare headed by veteran Congress leader from Jammu and Kashmir, Ghulam Nabi Azad, former Chief Minister of the State, today launched prestigious National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) initially for a period of five years with an estimated cost of Rs 22,507 crore.
The NUHM was launched after the success of National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), which had already been extended till March 31, 2017.
The new Urban Health Mission was launched after the approval of the Union Cabinet. The Mission proposals had been drafted by a high level experts panel of Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry.
Mr Azad has kept Jammu and Kashmir among three special category States, whose funding pattern will by 90:10 instead of 75:25 for other States excepting the North East.
Official sources told the Excelsior that Mr Azad launched the NUHM in New Delhi this afternoon after the Union Cabinet gave its nod to the proposal.
“The estimated cost of NUHM for 5 years period is Rs 22,507 crore with the Central Government share of Rs 16,955 crore. Centre-State funding pattern will be 75:25 except for North Eastern States and other special category States of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, where the funding pattern will be 90:10,’’ sources said.
Only last month, the Union Cabinet had approved the continuation of the NRHM and other sub-mission under NHM till 31.3.2017.
Sources said under the National Urban Health Mission, one Urban Primary Health Centre (U-PHC) would be opened for every 50,000 to 60,000 population while one Urban Community Health Centre (U-CHC) will be opened for five to six U-PHCs in big cities.
“There would be one Auxiliary Nursing Midwives (ANM) for 10,000 population and one Accredited Social Health Activist ASHA (community link worker) for 200 to 500 households.
The NUHM, which will be a new sub-mission under the over-arching National Health Mission (NHM), will focus on primary health care needs of the urban poor. The Mission will be implemented in 779 cities and towns with more than 50,000 population and cover about 7.75 crore people.
Sources said the interventions under the sub-mission would result in reduction in Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR), universal access to reproductive health care and convergence of all health related interventions.
“The existing institutional mechanism and management systems created and functioning under NRHM will be strengthened to meet the needs of NUHM. City wise implementation plans will be prepared based on baseline survey and felt need. Urban Local Bodies will be fully involved in implementation of the scheme,’’ they added.
According to sources, NUHM was aimed at improving the health status of the urban population in general, particularly the poor and other disadvantaged sections by facilitating equitable access to quality health care through a revamped primary public health care system, targeted outreach services and involvement of the community and Urban Local Bodies.
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