Udupi: Deputy Commissioner Swaroopa T K has underscored the urgent need to strengthen health awareness and preventive healthcare across the district to reduce the overall disease burden. She made the remarks while presiding over a review meeting of various health department committees at the DC’s office in Rajathadri on Tuesday.

Emphasising maternal and child health, the DC directed officials to ensure that every pregnant woman in the district is issued a Tayi card and receives consistent monitoring. She instructed doctors and hospital staff to conduct regular internal reviews and guarantee quality treatment and follow-up care for both mothers and newborns, with the goal of bringing maternal mortality in the district down to zero. She also stressed the importance of timely referrals to higher medical centres whenever specialised care is required.

Referring to the recent death of a pregnant woman, Sabista Banu, who was initially treated at Karkala Hospital before being shifted to a higher facility, she ordered that the case be examined by a medical board for detailed investigation.

The DC further directed health officials to ensure complete coverage under the immunisation programme, noting that no child should be left unvaccinated. Children who missed scheduled vaccinations must be identified and covered during rescheduled sessions, she said. She also observed that deworming tablets have been successfully distributed to all eligible beneficiaries in the district.

Addressing mental healthcare concerns, Swaroopa instructed authorities to shift unidentified mentally ill persons found wandering on roads to emergency care and recovery centres. She urged wide publicity of the helpline number 7795978883 so that the public can alert officials when such individuals are found.

Highlighting the need for early disease detection, she called for increased tuberculosis testing to identify patients at an early stage and ensure prompt treatment. She noted that 64 gram panchayats in the district have been selected for gold, silver and bronze recognition this year for their performance in tuberculosis elimination and treatment efforts.

Although blood banks in the district currently hold stocks above government targets, the DC suggested organising more blood donation camps, pointing out that patients from neighbouring districts also depend on Udupi for advanced medical care. She also instructed officials to expedite steps to establish blood banks in Byndoor, Kundapur and Udupi.

Additionally, she said government funds have already been released to upgrade infrastructure at urban primary health centres and Namma Clinics, and directed officials to take immediate action as per guidelines to improve these facilities.