Finally, work on ‘womb to tomb’ plan to start in Mumbai
BMC to submit implementation plan for Reproductive and Child Health II to state by March 7, next fiscal will see creation of 71 new health posts
…SWATEE KHER
BMC to submit implementation plan for Reproductive and Child Health II to state by March 7, next fiscal will see creation of 71 new health posts
…SWATEE KHER
BY the end of the week, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will submit to the state government its project implementation plan (PIP) for the coming year to kick-start the much delayed Reproductive and Child Health-II (RCH II) programme in the city.
Though the rest of the state began implementing the RCH II programme two years ago, the scheme aspiring to look after citizens from “womb to tomb” was stuck in red tape with the BMC and state disagreeing on the time-frame for implementing the programme in the city.
“The PIP is now being prepared for the coming year. We will be sending the proposal for forming the society which will manage the programme to the public health committee. The next step will be to put up the proposal for the creation of 71 health posts to the corporation,” said Dr G T Ambe, acting executive health officer, BMC.
While submitting the PIP ensures the flow of funds from the central government, the BMC is also chalking out exactly how the RCH II funds will be used in the coming financial year.
The World Bank-initiated Indian Population Project V (IPP- V) was in place in Mumbai since 1988, which required set ting up 180 health posts to cater to a population of 50,000. In 1997, the programme was relaunched as RCH, incorporating components dealing with child survival, safe motherhood, reproductive tract infection and sexually transmitted infections. However, the project was scrapped as BMC found it difficult to run the health posts. Soon, the number of health posts dwindled to 168, catering to an ever-swelling slum population.
With the beginning of the RCH II programme, the BMC will draw up a proposal within a fortnight to create an additional 71 health posts in the city.
“There was a problem earlier about the years of the project and the money allocated for BMC. The programme can be extended year after year, possibly even till 2017-2020.
There is no harm in planning long term. Once the PIPs are done, proper budgeting will be done for the 71 health posts and other staff and place requirements,” said Dr A A Bandiwadekar, deputy executive health officer.
“They have now told us that there will not be any problem related to the funds. In fact, there will be much more than the earlier Rs 50 crore that will come once the project rolls in. We have to prepare yearly plans for the implementation of the project,” said Dr Ambe.
According to the earlier proposal, the state gov ernment has promised 100 per cent monetary support (Rs 50 crore) to urban local bodies for two years.
However, from the third year, the corporations will have to chip in 25 per cent and eventually in the sixth year of the project, must generate the entire expense.
BMC had managed to adopt a few RCH components like supplying iron folic acid tablets to school children or treating reproductive tract infections in women under the old programme of maternal and child health care. Several programmes related to adolescents and sexually transmitted diseases among youth being run in collaboration with other government and non-government agencies, which are to be taken over by the BMC, have been pending due to the delay in implementing RCH II.
Though the rest of the state began implementing the RCH II programme two years ago, the scheme aspiring to look after citizens from “womb to tomb” was stuck in red tape with the BMC and state disagreeing on the time-frame for implementing the programme in the city.
“The PIP is now being prepared for the coming year. We will be sending the proposal for forming the society which will manage the programme to the public health committee. The next step will be to put up the proposal for the creation of 71 health posts to the corporation,” said Dr G T Ambe, acting executive health officer, BMC.
While submitting the PIP ensures the flow of funds from the central government, the BMC is also chalking out exactly how the RCH II funds will be used in the coming financial year.
The World Bank-initiated Indian Population Project V (IPP- V) was in place in Mumbai since 1988, which required set ting up 180 health posts to cater to a population of 50,000. In 1997, the programme was relaunched as RCH, incorporating components dealing with child survival, safe motherhood, reproductive tract infection and sexually transmitted infections. However, the project was scrapped as BMC found it difficult to run the health posts. Soon, the number of health posts dwindled to 168, catering to an ever-swelling slum population.
With the beginning of the RCH II programme, the BMC will draw up a proposal within a fortnight to create an additional 71 health posts in the city.
“There was a problem earlier about the years of the project and the money allocated for BMC. The programme can be extended year after year, possibly even till 2017-2020.
There is no harm in planning long term. Once the PIPs are done, proper budgeting will be done for the 71 health posts and other staff and place requirements,” said Dr A A Bandiwadekar, deputy executive health officer.
“They have now told us that there will not be any problem related to the funds. In fact, there will be much more than the earlier Rs 50 crore that will come once the project rolls in. We have to prepare yearly plans for the implementation of the project,” said Dr Ambe.
According to the earlier proposal, the state gov ernment has promised 100 per cent monetary support (Rs 50 crore) to urban local bodies for two years.
However, from the third year, the corporations will have to chip in 25 per cent and eventually in the sixth year of the project, must generate the entire expense.
BMC had managed to adopt a few RCH components like supplying iron folic acid tablets to school children or treating reproductive tract infections in women under the old programme of maternal and child health care. Several programmes related to adolescents and sexually transmitted diseases among youth being run in collaboration with other government and non-government agencies, which are to be taken over by the BMC, have been pending due to the delay in implementing RCH II.