Kochi: The Centre has taken a holistic approach to revolutionise healthcare by implementing a series of initiatives including Ayushman Bharat, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said here on Sunday (June 4). Minister Shah, who was in town to take part in the silver jubilee celebrations of the Kochi-based Amrita Hospital, also inaugurated two research centres under the institution.
Addressing the gathering, Minister Shah said Mata Amritanandamayi has made immense contribution in creating appreciation for India’s rich, spiritual culture and traditions. He said,
She has taught the art of giving to the world. Even after 50 years of serving millions of people, her humility is striking. Amma’s ashram built 1,200 houses in Gujarat after the 2001 earthquake. Those villages are locally called Amma’s villages. That is the gratitude of the people for the help provided by her in their hour of need
Minister Shah said in the last nine years, the central government has taken a holistic approach to transform healthcare with the launch of initiatives like the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Poshan Mission, Mission Indra Dhanush, Ayushman Bharat and Jal Jeevan Mission. He further added,
In 2013-14, there were 387 medical colleges in India, compared to 648 today. The number of MBBS seats has gone up from 51,000 to 99,000, and PG seats from 31,000 to 64,000 in the same period. Also, the government has sanctioned 22 new AIIMS to be opened across the country
The hospital, run by Mata Amritanandamayi Math, also announced Rs 65 crore for charitable care.
The research centres are being set up at the Amritapuri campus of Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham in Kollam district and another one adjacent to the Amrita Hospital in Kochi.
The two new centres are intended to solve common man’s problems by integrating high-quality research domains and translating them into affordable products for building sustainable and resilient communities, the hospital said in a statement.
Apart from Minister Shah, state Health Minister Veena George, Agriculture Minister P Prasad, Congress MP from Ernakulam Hibi Eden, Mayor M Anilkumar, Congress MLA T J Vinod, Swami Amritaswarupananda Puri, the Vice Chairman of Mata Amritanandamayi Math; and others participated.
Amrita Hospital in Kochi was inaugurated on May 17, 1998 by former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Over the last 25 years, the hospital has achieved numerous milestones, spearheaded innovations, and embraced technological advancements, enabling the provision of high-quality healthcare to all.
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(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – the LGBTQ population, indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fight malnutrition, mental wellbeing, self care, science and health, adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.
