Uttarakhand Boosts Health Infrastructure for Safe Tourism and Public Health

Chief Secretary Radha Raturi emphasizes leveraging oxygen plants from the pandemic era for safer tourism in Uttarakhand. Key measures include oxygen concentrators at high-altitude spots, enhancing health services, and pilot projects to reduce maternal mortality and eradicate TB by 2025.

Uttarakhand's Chief Secretary, Radha Raturi, has taken proactive steps to ensure a safe and healthy environment for tourists and residents by optimizing existing oxygen infrastructure post-Covid. During the 12th Governing Body meeting of the Uttarakhand Health and Family Welfare Committee, she directed health departments to equip high-altitude tourist spots and religious sites with sufficient oxygen concentrators.

The initiative aims to boost healthcare without expanding physical infrastructure and to enhance health literacy at grassroots levels. The meeting also saw the approval of improved honorarium for National Health Mission personnel and financial greenlights for several oxygen-related projects, aiming to fortify public health facilities.

In a stride towards reducing maternal mortality, a pilot project has been sanctioned for Haridwar. Mandatory maternal death audits have been instituted to address this concern. Additionally, Raturi has spearheaded efforts to eradicate tuberculosis from the state by 2025, focusing on targeted campaigns in areas with high TB prevalence, demonstrating a comprehensive approach to public health challenges.

(With inputs from agencies.)