Orissa, March 27: The Orissa government on Friday said it would introduce health programme in 60,000 schools in the most backward KBK (Kalahandi-Balangir-Koraput) region from July.
“About 58 lakh students will benefit from the programme.. We have also set up a target to set up at least 1,069 health sub-centres in KBK region by 2012,” Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik told reporters in Bhubaneswar after a State Health Mission meeting chaired by him.
As per the programme, school children would undergo regular health check-ups and be provided with medicines free of cost required for their diseases.
The KBK region, which had often hit headlines for poor health service, would get more health centres.
The health workers, including doctors and para-medical staff, working in the interior pockets would get special facilities, he said.
Keeping in view the alarming infant mortality rates, 200 more newborn care centres and at least five trauma centres would be set up in the region, health minister Prasanna Acharya said.
—Agencies