Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 17 2010:
Although the Government of India has announced termination of the Mental Health Programme, which was implemented in Manipur along with formation of societies in all districts, the State Govt has decided to continue with the programme under its own resource pool.
Talking to The Sangai Express in this connection, Health and Family Welfare Minister Ph Parijat informed that the State Cabinet has given its approval to the continuation of the programme under the Govt of Manipur although the period for implementation of the programme under the Government of India is already over.
The Minister pointed out that while the programme was being implemented under the Government of India, a lot of difficulties were faced as there are no hospital for treatment of mental health in Manipur.
However, when the State Government takes up the responsibility of continuing with the programme, a mental heath hospital would also be set up, the Minister assured.
The Minister informed that as the land of the Leprosy and TB Hospital at Lei-Ingkhol, Chingmeirong have been taken over by the Government in connection with setting up a new complex of the New Secretariat, construction work on a new Leprosy and TB Hospital has been started at Keirao.
In this new hospital complex, a treatment centre for mental health would be included.
Stating that the number of people suffering from mental health problem in Manipur has been increasing on account of the violence incident of killing people, bomb attacks at private residences or firing attack over extortion demands prevailing in the State, the Minister explained that the State Government has decided on continuation of the Mental Health programme taking into consideration of this fact.
Maintaining that a great change in the health sector of Manipur could be witnessed in the next couple of years, the Minister assured that the infrastructural requirements of all the existing Community Health Centres, Primary Health Centres and Primary Health Sub-Centres would be taken care of.
In the development of the required infrastructures, all the major works including construction of buildings would be taken up under National Rural Health Mission while the minor works like construction of smaller buildings, electricity and water supply, etc would be under the responsibility of the State Government, the Minister disclosed.
Furthermore, the Minister informed that the State Government has submitted a proposal to the Centre for setting up District Hospitals for Imphal East and Imphal West.