Lok Satta Welcomes Urban Health Mission

The Lok Satta Party today welcomed the Government of India decision to introduce the National Urban Health Mission on the lines of the National Rural Health Mission, although belatedly. Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan, as a member of the National Advisory Council, had played a pivotal role in conceiving and drafting the scheme.

Lok Satta Party spokesman Katari Srinivasa Rao and Working Committee member Laxman Balaji told the media that nearly 80 percent of migrants to urban areas led miserable lives and as a result fell prey to ill health. About 3.7 percent of people slipped into poverty every year as they incurred debt at to meet medical expenses. About 60 percent of urban children went without immunization in their first year. Youngsters remained weaklings. The proliferation of slums contributed to the outbreak of diseases affecting everybody. The introduction of the NUHM is, therefore, welcome against such a backdrop, the Lok Satta leaders remarked.

The Lok Satta leaders wanted the Government to focus on prevention of disease and provision of primary care. Formation of ward committees with resources and powers to implement and oversee all schemes concerning health care and sanitation would go a long way in curbing corruption and faster delivery of health services.