MEDICAL & PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES

PUBLIC HOSPITALS AND DISPENSARIES

In 1962, there were two hospitals, eight civil dispensaries, eight ayurvedic dispensaries, five unani dispensaries, and eleven primary health centres. Besides, there were two subsidised medical practitioner's centres and a grant-in-aid dispensary.

According to the Census of 1961 there were in Bhir district 235 physicians, surgeons and dentists. Of those 122 were practising in the ayurvedic system of medicine. In the same year there were 360 nurses, pharmacists and other medical and health technicians of whom 118 were nurses and 64 nursing attendants and related workers.

PUBLIC HEALTH ORGANISATION

The activities of Public Health Department include the control of communicable diseases like plague, cholera, smallpox etc. as also maternity and child health services, school health services, environmental sanitation etc. In addition, activities like family planning, control of leprosy, etc. having socio-economic bearing have been taken in hand by the department.

District Health Organisation

Prior to 1959 the medical and public health activities were under the charge of a single department. In that year separate departments were formed. The present district health office is headed by the district health officer who is assisted by an epidemic medical officer, seven sanitary inspectors, one leprosy supervisor, five health inspectors and other necessary staff.

With the formation of the Zilla Parishad, the health organisation at the district level has been transferred to the Zilla Parishad. However, some health schemes such as malaria eradication, leprosy control, mobile hospital unit, smallpox eradication, etc. are still under the state sector, partially or wholly.

Control of Epidemics

Cholera

Throughout the district about 1½ to 2 lakhs of people are annually inoculated against cholera.

The disinfection of well water is undertaken by sanitary squads and about 3,000 wells are disinfected annually.

Special health staff is deputed for making sanitary arrangements at the fairs. There are three major fairs held each year at Parali, Talwada and Narayan Gadh attended by about 50,000, 20,000 and 10,000 people, respectively.

Smallpox

Each of the sixteen vaccinators in the district cover about 50,000 persons. On an average about 40 to 50 thousand primary vaccinations are done every year. To eradicate the evil of smallpox, the Government of India have launched the smallpox eradication programme on a national scale. The Government of Maharashtra have the district supervising medical officer and other staff for this work and active propaganda is carried on. So far work in the four tahsils of Manjlegaon, Georai, Ambejogai and Ashti is completed.

School Health

The epidemic medical officer and the medical officer in charge of the medical and health unit, Patoda, is entrusted with the medical examination in various schools. The jurisdiction of the unit extends for the present over 32 villages with a population of 28,302. The scheme is being extended to the whole of the district.

Primary Health Units

Eleven primary health centres have been established in the district at the following places with sub-centres as indicated against each of them: —

The primary health centres are headed by medical officers and the sub-centres by mid-wives. The medical officers at the centres besides their normal duties are entrusted with the supervision of the sub-centres in their charge. The mid-wives are responsible for the maternity and child health services, milk feeding schemes, and ante-natal clinics. Environmental sanitation and control of communicable diseases is the primary responsibility of the health inspectors attached to the primary health centres Family planning centres and leprosy assistants are attached to most of these centres.

The eleven primary health centres in the district cover a population of about 6,15,022 in 716 villages. In 1962-63, in addition to preventive measures carried out, 1,03,346 patients were treated at these centres. With the setting up of the proposed primary health centres at Talkhed and Sirsala in Manjlegaon tahsil the scheme will cover the whole district.

Family Planning

Six family-planning centres functioning in the district at Patoda, Renapur, Yellam, Kada, Tadsona and Bhir cover a population of 2,66,850. All except the one at Bhir are headed by social workers. The centre at Bhir is headed by a medical officer and is attached to the civil hospital. The social workers contact people during their tours and explain and popularise the modern methods of family planning and organise vasectomy camps. In 1962-63, 41 such camps were organised in the district where 1,046 vasectomy operations were performed.

A mobile family-planning unit has been organised in the district, with a medical officer as its head.

Leprosy Schemes

Various leprosy control units have been established in the district at the following places: —

*Under control of the state sector not transferred to the Zilla Parishad.

A population of 3,19,887 in about 352 villages is thus covered by these centres. In addition to the survey work, treatment is given at all these centres. Besides, sub-centres are established at Baradapur, Ghatnandur, Mamdapur and Talwada. Weekly clinics are held at each of the main centres and fort-nightly clinics at the sub-centres. For inpatient treatment there is a ward having six beds at Georai. Laboratory facilities are available at Ambejogai. Health education and propaganda are carried out by the staff during their tours. During the period from 1958 to 1963, 3,933 cases were detected of which 2,193 are still under regular treatment. The leprosy supervisor attached to public health office at the headquarters supervises and coordinates anti-leprosy work in the district.