Imphal, August 25: Under the National Rural Health Mission the State Government has plans to construct new buildings for Primary Health Sub Centres in hill districts which do not have proper buildings of their own.

This was stated by Minister of Health and Family Welfare Ph Parijat at the inaugural function of a seminar at Litan Sareikhong Baptist Church in Ukhrul district today.

The three day long seminar on the theme 'Social Stigma and Discrimination' is being organised by the Litan Sarei-khong Students' Union under the sponsorship of World Vision and SEWA.

Parijat informed that plans are afoot to construct new buildings for PHSCs located in hill districts, particularly in remote areas where there is no proper building or the buildings are dilapidated.

The new buildings will be constructed at the cost of Rs 6 lakhs each under the National Rural Health Mission.

The Minister said existing 30 bedded hospital at Community Health Centre at Ukhrul district hqs will be upgraded to a 50 bedded one as district hospital.

Construction work for the district hospital will begin this year at Jail Complex, Ukhrul at the estimated cost of Rs 15 crores.

Cases of medical personnel unwilling to be posted at remote locations was also noted by Parijat.

Taking serious note of the reluctance of doctors from hill districts to go to their place of posting in their home districts and doctors from valley districts to far off and remote rural areas, Parijat disclosed that the Health Department has issued an official order prohibiting transfer of doctors as long as he/she does not complete three years in his/her previous place of posting.

Moreover, a Committee has also been constituted to look into the grievances of doctors and health employees who have been posted in hill districts for more than three years, he said.

He maintained that victims of HIV/AIDS should never be ostracised or discriminated.

Rather they should be treated with love and care, Parijat exhorted.

TR Kom of MACS while taking serious note of the large percentage of HIV infected people in Ukhrul district, stressed on the importance of extensive awareness on HIV/AIDS so that the disease is contained effectively from spreading further.

Many resource persons will address the seminar tomorrow.

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