Anantapur: Set up UPHCs near ward secretariats, Collector Gandham Chandrudu asks civic chiefs

Anantapur: District Collector Gandham Chandrudu has directed all municipal commissioners in the district to take steps to establish Urban Primary Health Centres (UPHCs) to cater to the health requirements of urban population.

Addressing a teleconference with commissioners on Sunday, Chandrudu said that as per the new government policy, these primary health centres are to be opened within the jurisdiction of the ward secretariats and proposals have to be sent by the commissioners by mapping their locations within the geographical area of the ward secretariats. The PHCs will have to be in the residential areas so that the people can reach the centres easily.

The Collector said that the PHC should cater to around 30,000 to 50,000 population while following the norm of 10-15 minutes walk. In case the distance is beyond 2 km the population can be split into around 15,000. Walking distance should not exceed 15 minutes walk.

Chandrudu asked Regional directorate of Municipalities to bring all the government services under the gamut of ward secretariats. The village secretariats are rendering 3 lakh different types of services while the ward secretariats only 48,000 services. He asked secretariats to increase the number of services to the people.