'Parivara Swasthya Mela' preparations on

MYSORE: District in charge minister H. Vishwanath on Monday reviewed preparations made for ‘Parivara Swasthya Mela’, to be held at the J.K. Grounds from December 21. Deputy prime minister L.K. Advani will inaugurate the three-day free medical check-up camp in which over 30,000 people are expected to undergo various tests. Special emphasis is being laid on creating awareness on HIV/AIDS at the Mela.
This is for the first time that Parivara Swasthya Mela, a Union government scheme, has been arranged in the state on such a large scale.
Medical education director Dr Sheela G. Nayak, deputy commissioner Kumar Naik, Mysore Medical College principal Dr Chandrashekar Shetty, DHO Dr Shivamurthy, MLA A. Ramdas and other officials of the district administration, Zilla Panchayat and family and welfare department attended the meeting.
The minister told reporters after the meeting that medical expenses for treating the public will be borne by the Karnataka government, which will be subsequently reimbursed by the Centre. Over 200 doctors, besides paramedical staff, will be on duty for three days to carry out check-ups and treatment. Vishwanath noted that this is the first time that Parivar Swasthya Mela has been arranged in the state.
Union minister for health and family welfare Sushma Swaraj, Karnataka health and family welfare minister Kagodu Thimmappa, medical education minister Dr A.B. Malaaka Raddy will also attend the inaugural function.
Later, MLA Ramdas told this paper that experts from the premier All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Nimhans, All India Institute of Speech and Hearing, and Narayana Hrudalaya are attending the Mela and will be available for consultation. More than 30,000 people are expected.
Though the Mela was scheduled to be held in the city in the third week of February, it was put off for nine months. The programme was first launched in prime minister A.B. Vajpayee’s constituency in Lucknow, and later at Patna. Ramdas said that medical experts from government hospitals in the city and district, besides experts from the multi-speciality Vikram Hospital and Heart Centre, JSS Hospital, Adichunchanagiri Institute of Medical Sciences, Shantaveri Gopal Gowda Nursing Home, BGS-Apollo Hospitals will be present.
Besides providing free medical care, the Mela will also enlist names of those who need surgery or special treatment.
Those who live below the poverty line will be offered treatment at hi-tech hospitals free of cost, Ramdas said. A special cell will be set up to test every participant for HIV, he added.
NGOs help sought: District in charge minister H. Vishwanath on Monday asked NGOs interested in helping patients attending Parivara Swasthya Mela to approach the deputy commissioner.
Speaking to reporters after reviewing arrangements to the Mela here, the minister said NGOs should come forward to assist authorities to help poor get treatment.
He also asked public to make use of the medical facilities and experts during the three-day Mela.