Indian Health Ministry's Scheme to Promote Cleanliness in Public Health Facilities

The union health ministry in India launched a special scheme named ’Kayakalp’ to promote cleanliness, hygiene and infection control practices in public health care facilities. Launching the initiative, Health Minister J.P. Nadda said, "The initiative will encourage every public health facility in the country to work towards standards of excellence to help the facilities stay clean and hygienic." The minister also released the Swachchta guidelines for public health facilities. Nadda said, "The initiative towards total ’Swacchta’ in public health facilities is aimed towards building confidence of the users in public health facilities, provide quality service and encourage team work. This does not apply only to physical cleanliness, but to develop and put in place systems and procedures for activities such as bio-waste disposal or protocols. The objectives are to promote cleanliness, hygiene and infection control practices in public health care facilities and to incentivize and recognize those facilities that show exemplary performance in adhering to standard protocols of cleanliness and infection control."

The minister invited various stakeholders, people, NGOs and voluntary organizations to participate in this endeavor and share the responsibility for cleanliness of the health facility. He also announced five awards under this scheme for the best two district hospitals in each state, two community health centers or sub-district hospitals and one primary health center in every district.

Source-Medindia