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The Hindu
2 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Tiruchi Corporation speeds up construction of urban health centres
In an effort to improve public access to healthcare services, Tiruchi Corporation has expedited the construction of new urban primary health centres (UPHCs) and urban health sub-centres (HSCs) across the city, The move comes in response to increasing public patronage of UPHCs in recent years, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, which exposed the urgent need to expand public health infrastructure. Officials said the new centres were expected to ease pressure on existing facilities and offer hassle-free access to essential medical services, particularly for economically weaker sections. Under the National Urban Health Mission (NUHM), the scheme envisions establishing one UPHC for every 50,000 people. With a population of 12 lakh, Tiruchi requires 24 UPHCs to ensure adequate healthcare coverage. At present, the city has 18 UPHCs and 36 health and wellness centres. Several new UPHCs are under construction, while existing centres are being renovated and expanded. A new facility is being built at Panjapur with provision for inpatient facility, consultation rooms, and labs. The centre is aimed at covering low-income groups in the locality. Similarly, new facilities are being constructed at Lakshmi Nagar in Srirangam, Kongu Nagar in Ariyamangalam and Pappakurichi in Kattur at ₹1.20 crore each. New UPHCs are being established at Erikarai Main Road in Subramaniyapuram and Beerangikulam at a cost of ₹1.50 crore each. Construction of additional buildings for the UPHCs is underway in Pappakurichi, Teppakulam, and Beemanagar areas, with an outlay of ₹60 lakh each. Similarly, urban health sub-centres are being established at Thiruvanaikovil, Ariyamangalam, and Khajamalai at a cost of ₹30 lakh each. Meanwhile, urban health sub-centres at K.K. Nagar, Pandamangalam, Rail Nagar, Melur, JJ Nagar, Malai Kovil and Edamalaipattipudur, which were built at a cost of ₹30 lakh each, and additional buildings for the Thennur UPHC are ready for inauguration. 'The construction work is progressing at a brisk pace, and work at several sub-health centres is at finishing stages and is expected to be completed within two months,' said M. Vijay Chandran, City Health Officer. The new centres are being set up in the city under the National Urban Health Mission with financial assistance from the Central and State governments.
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
NQAS-certified UPHCs go up to 7 in Trichy
Trichy: Trichy corporation's Kamaraj Nagar urban primary health centre (UPHC) near the airport is accredited with National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) certification by National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHSRC) for maintaining better health infrastructure and providing quality healthcare. The centre secured a score of 91.9% and high in eight out of 12 departmental services provided. An external assessment involving document verifications, interviewing medical officers, nurses, and patients was conducted by NHSRC on June 20 and 21. A team assessed components including health infrastructure, quality management, usage of personal protection equipment, and sterilisation of medical equipment. The survey report sent to Trichy corporation said the UPHC has complied with all criteria and scored 91.9% marks. In departments such as laboratory, maternal health, newborn care, emergency, general clinic, and immunisation, the UPHC scored above 90%. However, in general administration, and providing services for communicable and non-communicable diseases it scored below 90% marks. As NQAS certification comes with a cash reward of Rs 3 lakh, city health officer M Vijay Chandran said that around 25% of the reward will be utilised in providing incentives to health centre employees, and the remaining amount to improve health and civil infrastructure. "So far, seven UPHCs are certified. We will complete certification for all 18 UPHCs within the year. EB road, Woraiyur, and MK Kottai UPHCs are in the process of getting NQAS certification," he said.
The Hindu
21-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Free cancer screening camps evoke poor response in Tiruchi; health officials blame it on ignorance, social stigma
Despite the growing need for cancer awareness and early detection, free cancer screening camps set up at the health centres in Tiruchi have evoked a lukewarm response from residents. Aimed at screening people aged over 18 for oral cancer and women aged over 30 for breast cancer and cervical cancer and providing appropriate treatment for recovery, the camps are yet to pick up pace despite being launched on May 12. According to M. Vijay Chandran, City Health Officer, several factors contribute to the low turnout. 'Lack of awareness about preventive cancer screening and its benefits is a major deterrent. Many people are hesitant to get screened for fear of diagnosis and social stigma associated with cancer.' The screening camps are set up in all 18 urban primary health centres and 36 health and wellness centres in the city. Each centre has a doctor, four staff nurses, six urban health nurses, and woman health volunteers. Training sessions were conducted for the doctors and medical staff. Urban health nurses and woman health volunteers are engaged in a door-to-door awareness campaign to sensitise people and invite them to the screening camp. With the data recorded in the Family Registration, which contains complete details of the persons in the family, their age, and other information, they reach out to the people and hand over invite cards. They are asked to bring the filled-in cards at the time of screening. As of June 21, about 14,125 invites were given, of them, 6,270 people have been screened at the centres. Among the screened, 111 were referred to hospitals for diagnosing, but only seven had gone in for a follow-up. 'Biopsy for cervical cancer was done for seven patients and there are no confirmed cases of cancer. A follow-up to check if the patients had visited the referred facility for screening is planned,' said Dr. Chandran. Steps have been taken to intensify the awareness campaign and enrol the people under the Chief Minister's Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme. The team has been instructed to screen patients enrolled at the UPHCs, beneficiaries of the Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam scheme, and Corporation officials and workers. Special cancer screening counters have been set up at the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital for a hassle-free treatment experience.
The Hindu
18-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Thennur UPHC in Tiruchi gets NQAS certification
The Urban Primary Health Centre (UPHC) at Thennur in Tiruchi has received the National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) certification from the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) for upholding high standards of quality. The UPHC secured 90.52% and fulfilled all requirements for the certification. The facility received accreditation for adhering to the highest standards in healthcare, especially in parameters such as preventive and curative services, providing services as per local needs, maintenance and upkeep of equipment and infrastructure, diagnostic services, newborn and childcare, immunisation, implementing strict hand hygiene for employees and asepsis, waste management etc. It is the sixth UPHC to receive NQAS certification in Tiruchi. A national assessment team inspected the centre on June 9 and 10 for an assessment before certification was issued. Specialists assessed the quality of infrastructure, including services offered to expectant mothers and newborns, treatment for communicable and non-communicable diseases, and the cleanliness of the health centre that caters to the needs of the people residing in the locality. As a result, the UPHC has won a cash reward of ₹3 lakh. About 25% of the prize money will be given as incentives to the healthcare workers at the centre, and the rest will be used for patient welfare and the development of the UPHC. According to M. Vijay Chandran, City Health Officer, the UPHC caters to a population of 58,752 in the area, and around 90% of the people have been screened for non-communicable diseases. The health centre, on an average, handles around 250 to 300 patients a day and conducts two deliveries a month. It has a doctor, four staff nurses, five urban health nurses, a sector health nurse, a pharmacist, a lab technician, and four multipurpose health workers. The two-storey facility has three beds for males and infants and a six-bedded labour ward. It has additional buildings for labs, pharmacy and medicine storage. The centre offers treatment in general medicine, maternity health, newborn and child care, immunisation, family planning, communicable disease, non-communicable disease, accident and emergency. The NQAS teams are scheduled to assess the UPHCs in Kamaraj Nagar, Woraiyur, MK Kottai and East Boulevard Road in the coming weeks.
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Stress on menstrual hygiene among girls, hostel students
Trichy: Awareness programmes focusing on menstruating teenage girls and hostel students, were conducted by Trichy corporation's urban primary health centres (UPHCs) on Wednesday, as a part of the World Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) Day observed annually on May 28. The local body promoted the availability of cost-free menstrual napkins provided by the state govt through educational institutions and anganwadis. City health officer Vijay Chandran said that the local body conducted events in libraries and anganwadi centres by inviting the targeted age group of girls and women residing nearby the centres. Since prolonged usage of menstrual napkins will cause health issues, women health volunteers and urban health nurses who conducted the sensitization drives urged the girls to change the pads frequently to prevent infections. "Unwanted fears of irregular menstruation among teenage girls who recently started menstruating were discussed by our health workers. The cycle and menstrual flow will differ for every individual woman. Young girls were advised to change their menstrual pads frequently since govt is providing free sanitary napkins," Chandran said. He added that wardens in govt hostels and anganwadi workers can be approached to obtain the napkins manufactured by women self-help groups (SHGs). Corporation said that circulars will be issued to hostels and educational institutions to ensure the working conditions of incinerators in toilets, to dispose of the used napkins. "In houses, residents can hand over the used sanitary napkins separately to the sanitary workers. They should not mix with other domestic waste," the officer added.
