Stalin health camps take quality treatment to village doorsteps: Minister E V Velu

Public Works, Highways and Minor Ports Minister E. V. Velu on Friday said the ‘Nalam Kaakkum Stalin’ scheme was bringing a major transformation in rural healthcare by taking quality medical services directly to villages and helping people lead a disease-free life.
The Minister inspected a special medical camp organised under the scheme by the Medical and Public Welfare Department at the Government Higher Secondary School in Kattampundi Panchayat, Tiruvannamalai taluk.
District Collector K. Tharpagaraj and Chengam MLA M. P. Giri were present during the inspection.
Addressing the gathering, the Minister said the Chief Minister had launched the scheme based on the principle that a disease-free life was the greatest form of
wealth.
He recalled that earlier advanced medical facilities were largely confined to Chennai, but were now available in district government hospitals, primary health centres and even at the village level, ensuring direct benefits to rural residents.
He said 1,756 health camps had been planned across Tamil Nadu, of which several were currently under way, benefiting 6,86,732 people so far.
In Tiruvannamalai district, 28 of the 58 proposed camps had been conducted, benefiting 45,129 people.
Of these, 30,844 had undergone blood tests, 20,822 ECG tests, 3,654 scan tests and 3,070 echocardiogram tests.
In addition, 14,455 unorganised sanitation workers had benefited and 2,352 Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Cards had been issued.
The Minister said the Dravidian model government gave priority to education and healthcare and was implementing several flagship schemes, including the Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy Maternity Financial Assistance Scheme, Innuyir Kappom, Idhayam Kaappom, Kannoli Thedi Maruthuvam and the Chief Minister’s Pharmacy scheme.
He added that medicines were being supplied at discounts of up to 25 per cent through Chief Minister’s pharmacies, benefiting the poor and middle-class families.
Later, the Minister distributed nutritional kits to pregnant women, medicine kits under the Kannoli Thedi Maruthuvam scheme, Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Cards and welfare board identity cards to sanitation
workers.
He also personally inspected the medical tests and treatment facilities provided at the camp.
Among those present were District Rural Development Agency Project Director Dr. R. Mani, District Health Officer Dr. V. Prakash, Government Medical College Principal Prof. Dr. Mohan Gandhi, Joint Director (Welfare) Dr. Kavitha, Kattampundi Medical Officer Dr. Bhuvaneshwari, and other senior officials and
doctors.