The Telangana CM formally launched the welfare scheme and distributed the kits to six lactating women at Modern Government Maternity Hospital in Petlaburj.
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao today formally launched the "KCR Kits" welfare scheme and distributed the kits to six women who had delivered babies recently at Modern Government Maternity Hospital in Petlaburj in Old City.
The six lactating mothers including Rasheeda Begum, Mekala Savitha, Nookala Navaneetha, P Saritha and Tabassum received the kits directly from the hands of the Chief Minister amidst applause from all those who were present on the occasion on the hospital premises.
The Chief Minister also launched a website dedicated to the initiative on this occasion.
Earlier, the Chief Minister was shown a photo exhibition before he went around the hospital. He was also shown the ultrasound centre, emergency ward, general wards, stabilization centre for complicated cases, recovery room and other facilities in the hospital.
Going around the hospital KCR interacted with patients and enquired about the functioning of the hospital and staff. He then pointed out that as against a bed strength of 462 in the hospital, the demand was for over 700 beds, which was a proof of the hospital's good work and good name. "This is a dense area and poor people live here, and hence there will be high demand for the hospital's facilities. With a shortage of beds and increase in demand, there can be struggles resembling battles. One should thank the doctors for allowing extra patients over and above the bed strength. We are doing service to humanity. Still sometimes the media carries negative news reports, particularly with reference to the non-availability of beds. Probably a public relations exercise is needed to undo this sort of negative publicity," he said.
The CM recalled the services of Dr Mahalakshmi of the yesteryears and how during those days even the elite used to make use of the services of this hospital. He said that if needed one more block would be constructed on the same premises to enable the hospital to regain that glory and reputation. He promised to provide land for such a new building, and said that the hospital would soon be run to corporate standards very soon.
In the recovery room, the Chief Minister had an interaction with the doctors and staff and enquired about the facilities in the hospital. On knowing that there was a shortage of staff, the CM said, "If there is a shortage, let us take it as a challenge and work accordingly."
The Chief Minister also made a reference to the patients' attendants' facilities, and recalled how in earlier days there used to be "dharmasalas" for the attendants adjacent to government hospitals. He asked the Health Minister to build such dharmasalas in the future in every hospital, beginning with those in the dense areas.
The CM also met the nursing staff and enquired about their problems, and promised better stipends and mess facilities.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by Union Minister Bandaru Dattatreya, Deputy Chief Minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali, ministers Nayani Narasimha Reddy and C Laxma Reddy, MLA Quadri, Chief Secretary S P Singh, Health Secretary Rajeshwar Tiwari and Family Welfare Commissioner Karuna among others.