PHCs score poor in infection control

Kothagudem: The preliminary assessment report on primary health centers (PHCs) and community health centers (CHCs) in Bhadradri-Kothagudem district highlighted shortcomings in respect of adhering to various parameters prescribed by the Union Health Ministry to award Kayakalpa Awards to public health facilities.

The awards injected a sense of competition among the PHCs and CHCs in maintaining sanitation and hygiene, infection control, hospital upkeep, waste management and community participation.

There are 29 PHCs and two CHCs in Bhadradri-Kothagudem district. According to assessment done, the PHC at Chundrugonda ranked number one with 89.3 per cent marks, while the PHC at Karakagudem figured at the other end of the spectrum with 35.63 marks. In respect of fulfilling parameters like waste management and infection control, the performance of some of the PHCs is quite disturbing.

Even at the preliminary assessment level, their performance is needed to improve vastly. There will be three rounds of assessments—internal, peer level and external—to improve their functioning. As part of the external assessment, the officials of neighbouring districts would inspect the health facilities and verify their compliance of the parameters.

Based on the set criterion, prize winners will receive a cash award with a citation. First rank and second rank awardees at district level hospital will get Rs 50 lakh and Rs 20 lakh respectively. While Rs 15 lakh and Rs 10 lakh are proposed for community health centres/sub district hospitals, for the same criteria and winner at primary health centre will get Rs 2 lakh under this scheme.

Certificate of Commendation and cash award would also be given to such facilities that score over 70 pert cent, but do not make it to the list of top two/one in a particular year, which is proposed as Rs 3 lakh for district hospital, Rs 1 lakh for community health centres/sub district hospitals and Rs 50, 000 for primary health centre.

The PHC at Chundrugonda got 58 per cent marks in hospital upkeep, 60 per cent in sanitation and hygiene, 42 per cent in waste management, 54 per cent in infection control and 28 per cent in community participation.

The PHC at Karakagudem got 34 per cent in hospital upkeep, 24 per cent in sanitation and hygiene, 10 per cent in waste management, 31 per cent in infection control and 8 per cent in community participation.

Of the 29 PHCs, 26 have to improve their performance in waste management as they have scored less than 30 per cent of marks. In infection control, 11 PHCs scored less than 30 per cent marks. In community participation, many PHCs scored less than 30 per cent marks.

The preliminary assessment gives 70.2 per cent marks to Bhadrachalam Area Hospital and 52.8 per cent to Kothagudem Area Hospital. The CHC at Palvoncha is ahead of Bhadrachalam with 81 per cent marks in waste management aspect. Bhadrachalam Area Hospital scored only 74 per cent. In community participation, the CHC at Palvoncha got 39 per cent as against 36 per cent by Bhadrachalam Area Hospital.

In hospital upkeep, the Palvoncha CHC got 66 per cent as against 61 per cent by Bhadrachalam Area Hospital. In hygiene and sanitation, the Palvoncha CHC got 66 per cent while the Bhadrachalam CHC got 54 per cent.