Latest news with #MLHPs
The Hindu
10-07-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Village Health Nurses urge government not to engage contract nurses for immunisation work
Village Health Nurses (VHN) have demanded that the move to engage Mid-Level Health Providers (MLHP), nurses recruited on a contract basis, in carrying out immunisation services at Health Sub-Centres (HSC) should be dropped. They alleged that the Health department was trying to take away the immunisation works from VHNs and rope in contract nurses due to pressure from the Central government. The Tamil Nadu Public Health Nurses Federation met Health Secretary P. Senthil Kumar and Mission Director of National Health Mission, Tamil Nadu, Arun Thamburaj, and put forward their demands. P. Nirmala, State president of the federation handed over a memorandum. The association demanded that the decision to appoint MLHPs at HSCs should be scrapped. They also demanded the Health Minister Ma. Subramanian to take back a statement 'falsely accusing' VHNs of refusing to take up COVID-19 vaccination and routine immunisation services. VHNs and Sector Health Nurses had taken up field work during the COVID-19 pandemic induced lockdown and carried out vaccination and other pandemic-related work. They alleged that the Minister told reporters that MLHPs were roped in as VHNs refused to do such work. This has humiliated VHNs, the association said. Posing a question to the Health Minister, the association asked how was it possible for 4,888 contract MLHPs to carry out the final phase of COVID-19 vaccination works when 8,713 HSCs functioned as vaccination centres and that too without training. COVID-19 vaccination started in January 2021, and the majority were covered during 2022. When this was the case, how can MLHPs who were recruited from the end of December 2021 to January 2022 carry out the COVID-19 vaccination, they asked. While registering their condemnation for the Minister's statement, the association demanded that the move to appoint MLHPs at HSCs following pressure from the Union government as a part of its national health policy should be dropped. The Minister should stop falsely accusing VHNs of covering up this truth, they said. The association has decided to intensify protests if the Health Minister does not take back the statement. They demanded that the vacant posts of VHNs should be filled, and data entry operators should be involved to upload immunisation details on the U-WIN portal.
The Hindu
28-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
T.N. Village Health Nurses demand filling up of vacant posts, to stage series of protests
Village Health Nurses (VHN) affiliated with the Tamil Nadu Government All Health Nurses Association have flagged a number of concerns, including a delay in filling the large number of vacant posts, as a result of which their workload has increased manifold. They have also registered their objection to the Health department's move to involve Mid Level Health Providers (MLHP) in immunisation services — one of the key service areas of VHNs — instead of filling the vacancies. On Friday (June 27, 2025), the association members, along with the Doctors Association for Social Equality (DASE), said that they have decided to launch a series of protests to put forward their demands, starting with wearing demand badges till July 2, demonstrations in all district headquarters on July 10, and a fast in Chennai on July 24. There were nearly 4,000 vacant posts of VHNs in the State. As a result, the existing VHNs were covering four villages instead of one each through the Health Sub Centres. This has resulted in heavy workload, and was affecting maternal and child health services, they said in a press release. 'Now, instead of filling the vacant posts, the Directorate of Public and Preventive Medicine is trying to engage MLHPs — 4,848 of them were recruited for Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam — to work in HSCs and take up the immunisation services. It is VHNs who have been carrying out immunisation work for several decades, and this decision is unacceptable,' R. Indhira, founder, Tamil Nadu Government All Health Nurses Association, said. She added that a court case was being cited for not filling up the vacancies. G.R. Ravindranath, general secretary, DASE, said the State government should take steps to expedite the court case and fill the vacancies. He also demanded that the government withdraw its decision to involve big private hospitals to provide immunisation services under the Universal Immunisation Programme. The implementation of Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy Maternity Benefit Scheme was taking up 80% of the time of the VHNs. As a result, their primary responsibilities in maternal and child health care were being affected. The scheme's implementation should be returned to the Social Welfare department, they demanded.
Hans India
24-06-2025
- Health
- Hans India
Induction Training Highlights Role of MLHPs in Strengthening Rural Health Services
Gadwal: A one-day MLHP Induction Training and Review Meeting commenced today at 10:30 AM at the IDOC office in Jogulamba Gadwal district. The event marked an important step in strengthening the functioning of Ayushman Arogya Mandirs through the active involvement and training of Mid-Level Health Providers (MLHPs). The meeting was inaugurated and led by the District Medical and Health Officer (DM&HO), Dr. SK Siddappa, who was joined by key program officers including Dr. J. Sandhya Kiranmai, Dr. Prasoonarani, Dr. G. Raju, and Dr. Rizwana Tanveer. In his address, Dr. SK Siddappa emphasized the importance of punctuality and discipline among MLHP staff stationed at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs. He urged all MLHP personnel to strictly adhere to their duty timings and actively oversee the implementation of various health programs at the grassroots level. Furthermore, he instructed MLHPs to: Visit villages in the afternoon for supervision and community health outreach. Ensure daily OP (Outpatient) services and health activities are properly conducted. Upload all activities, including health camps and daily reports, to the Ayushman Arogya Mandir portal for transparent and timely monitoring. The review meeting witnessed participation from: Medical Officers, MLHP staff from all 67 health centers in the district, Where MLHPs were absent, respective ANMs (Auxiliary Nurse Midwives) attended on their behalf, And other district health department officials. This initiative aims to strengthen primary healthcare delivery, ensure efficient implementation of health schemes, and enhance accountability among frontline health staff in Jogulamba Gadwal district.
Hans India
19-06-2025
- Health
- Hans India
NCDCD survey finds Chittoor leading in diabetes, hypertension rates
Tirupati: Chittoor district has reported a higher prevalence of diabetes and hypertension than Tirupati, as per the findings of the ongoing NCDCD 3.0 (Non-Communicable Disease Control and Detection) survey. The data, released by health officials, highlights the growing health burden linked to lifestyle diseases and underscores the urgency of early detection and intervention. The survey is part of the NDA government's broader push to strengthen preventive healthcare through early screening of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the State. Launched on November 14 last year and is scheduled to complete by the end of this month, the initiative deploys medical teams, comprising MLHPs, ANMs, and ASHA workers, to visit households and collect health information from individuals above the age of 18. The collected data is uploaded to a digital platform, enabling doctors to access patients' health records during consultations and provide informed care. In Chittoor district, where the total number of households is 5,92,514, the survey has already been completed in 5,03,207 homes. Out of 15,67,268 eligible individuals, 11,23,233 have been screened so far. Of those, 1,20,295 have been found to have diabetes and 1,33,327 have hypertension. Additionally, 273 individuals are suspected of having oral cancer, 218 of breast cancer, and 203 of cervical cancer, according to District Medical and Health Officer (DM&HO) Dr DT Sudha Rani. Meanwhile, in Tirupati district, 12,27,723 individuals have been screened out of a target population of 17,47,091. About 3,84,694 people were not available during the survey visits, resulting in a 70.26 percent completion rate, with 7.73 percent of the target group yet to be covered. Despite the wider coverage in Tirupati, the incidence rates of key non-communicable diseases remain lower than in Chittoor. Diabetes prevalence in Chittoor stands at 10.7 percent compared to 7.49 percent in Tirupati, while hypertension rates are 11.86 percent in Chittoor against 8.13 percent in Tirupati. Oral and cervical cancer cases were also higher in Chittoor, though Tirupati reported more breast cancer cases. Health officials attribute the rising trend of early-onset NCDs to lifestyle changes such as decreased physical activity, increased consumption of fast food, and extended use of mobile devices. Alarming increases in diabetes, hypertension, and even cancers among individuals under 30 have prompted the government to include cancer screenings, specifically for oral, breast, and cervical cancers as part of the NCDCD initiative. Once completed the survey will provide comprehensive information of the health profile of the people in the district to the health officials.
