Bhubaneswar, Oct 1 (Inditop.com) The Orissa government Thursday launched a school health programme which is expected to benefit more than 580,000 students in the state.
The scheme, launched by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in Kandhamal, aims to provide health cards to more than 580,000 students in the 60,000 schools of the state. Each student would be given free medicines and a minimum of two medical check ups by specialist doctors, under the scheme.
The programme would go a long way in improving the health of school children, the chief minister said.
“If students become aware of their health, it would have a positive impact on their families and society. It would help in improving the health condition of the state and ultimately building a better future for the coming generation,” Patnaik said.
Under the scheme, the state government would also give Rs.100 to a student as transportation expense to take a sick student to hospital. A sick student would also be given Rs.50 for each day’s stay at hospital.
Apart from that, each of the schools would be provided an annual aid of Rs.10,000 to meet emergency medical expenses, while the plan also includes setting up health awareness centres in schools.
The programme would cost the state exchequer Rs.301.3 million a year, and would be jointly managed by the state health and family welfare and education departments and the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM).
