The All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) recently hogged the limelight for a reason other than medical excellence— for hygiene and cleanliness. The premier medical institute has bagged the first prize of Rs 3 crore under the government’s Kayakalp scheme for 2018-19 for maintaining high standards of sanitation and hygiene in its premises.
The Kayakalp Award was instituted as part of the ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ on 15 May, 2015 as a national initiative to recognize and felicitate public health facilities that demonstrate high levels of cleanliness, hygiene and infection control measure on promoting cleanliness in public spaces.
After AIIMS, the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry has been adjudged runner-up with prize of Rs 1.5 crore under the Central Government Hospitals A category and Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh and Safdarjung Hospital, Delhi has won the commendation award of Rs. 50 Lakh each in the same category.
In the group B category, VBCH, Silvassa was the winner with Rs 2 crore prize money, AIIMS Bhubaneswar was the runner-up with the prize of Rs. 1 crore, while NEIGRIHMS, Shillong, LGBRIMH, Tezpur and AIIMS, Bhopal won prizes of Rs. 50 lakhs each as commendation awards.
The Kayakalp awards were given away by Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan in presence of MoS (HFW) Ashwini Kumar Choubey, here on October 11.
At the ceremony, Harsh Vardhan said, “Kayakalp award has made you inspiration towards ‘swachhta’ in your community and region. Now you should become role models for other health facilities and inspire and lead your community and districts towards achieving the highest standards of cleanliness and hygiene.”
Commending the awardees Vardhan said, “Cleanliness is no more a one-time activity but is integrated into our day-to-day practices and should become a habit. Kayakalp has played a pivotal role in reinstating and reconfirming trust and confidence of the community in public health facilities.”
He further added, “The zest and zeal shown by the hospitals and their collective efforts in improving cleanliness, hygiene and infection control practices should continue unabated. It is now your duty, to take upon the leadership role and mentor and monitor the Ayushman Bharat- Health & Wellness Centers (AB-HWCs) of your Districts, States and UTs.”
Stating health and hygiene as the top priorities of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, He said, “Taking a leaf from the life of Mahatma Gandhi, our Prime Minister has inspired, implemented and monitored the ‘Swachh Bharat Movement’.”
Dreaming of rolling out such an ambitious public health movement in such a vast country in itself is monumental, Vardhan stated. “We must now resolve to come together, make concerted efforts and contribute to his vision of a clean India, a happy & healthy India.”
Addressing the event, MoS Choubey stated, “Our efforts towards cleanliness and hygiene, in any shape and form, are like an offering, a ‘swachhaanjli’ to the father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi ji as the nation celebrates his 150th birth anniversary.”
Meanwhile, at the function, Health Minister has also released Kayakalp Coffee Table book documenting the success journeys of the award-winning health facilities and presented the awards to the winners under various categories
The event was also attended by Preeti Sudan (Secretary) Health, B.K Rao, Chairman (NABH) along with representatives from the States and Union Territories.
Health Minister also felicitated the district hospitals, PHCs and CHCs, wherein 29 hospitals won the first prize, 14 won the second prize and 2 won third prize.
In the current year, for the holistic and comprehensive improvement across the health sector, the Kayakalp scheme was extended to private-sector health facilities, around 11 private health facilities were felicitated at the event
