New Delhi, October 24 (IANS). The World Bank on Friday approved a new health reform program in Kerala. The objective of this program is to extend the life span and improve the quality of life of approximately 1.1 crore elderly and vulnerable people of the state.
Under this, people will get easy access to better health services. The World Bank has also approved a loan of $280 million from the International Bank of Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) for this initiative.
Under this program, Kerala’s health system will be strengthened so that it can remain safe from the effects of natural disasters and climate change. Along with broadening the health services of the state, emphasis will also be laid on digital health services. In this, e-health services will be expanded, patients’ data will be kept on an integrated platform and cyber security will be enhanced so that the information of patients remains safe.
One of the main objectives of the program is to provide better care to patients suffering from diseases like high blood pressure and diabetes. For this, the information of each patient will be tracked through electronic system. Apart from this, a home care model will also be created, so that bedridden, elderly and weak people who are unable to go out of the house will also be able to get health services.
“Good health empowers people, creates jobs, and drives economies,” said Paul Prossey, World Bank Executive Director for India. A strong health system helps in responding quickly and appropriately to situations like emergencies and pandemics.”
He said, “The level of education of women in Kerala is very high. If women remain healthy, they can contribute more to the economy of the state. Under this program, a target of 40 percent improvement in high blood pressure patients and 60 percent increase in cervical and breast cancer screening in women has been set. “This will help reduce preventable deaths.”
Kerala has made continuous improvements in the health sector in the last 20 years. The state’s neonatal mortality rate has been 3.4 per 1,000, infant mortality rate 4.4 per 1,000, under-five mortality rate 5.2 per 1,000, and maternal mortality rate 19 per 100,000. This success has been achieved due to high literacy, health awareness, and local administrative system.
However, new challenges are now emerging in the state. The burden of non-communicable diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes and cancer is increasing. Along with this, the number of elderly people is increasing rapidly and now they constitute more than 20 percent of the total population of the state. Due to this the pressure on the health system has increased.
There are also deficiencies in emergency and accident care and more than 4,000 people lose their lives in road accidents every year.
Through this new program, standard procedures and rules will be adopted in collaboration with the local government. This includes ensuring the appropriate use of antibiotics and creating rapid and reliable lab reporting systems for animal-borne diseases.
Primary health centers in Wayanad, Kozhikode, Kasaragod, Palakkad and Alappuzha will adopt climate-friendly measures. Its purpose is to save energy and maintain continuity of health services in conditions like heat and floods.
Kerala has adopted a ‘One Health’ approach, which integrates human, animal and environmental health. A strong community monitoring system is also being built in the state using the experience and support of the World Bank. With this system, better health services can be provided to the elderly and vulnerable people.
Additionally, the program will support a multi-tier emergency and accident care system. With this, about 85 lakh people will get timely and good quality health services. Under the program, the loan of $280 million will be repaid over a period of 25 years, with a grace period of the first 5 years.
–IANS
PK/AS