The Kavalam grama panchayat in Kuttanad has expanded its local healthcare and medical support facilities, focusing on both palliative care and general health services for its community.
Palliative care provisions, managed by the Family Health Centre, include monthly home care for approximately 130 bedridden and palliative patients. These services are supported by a dedicated palliative nurse and a vehicle, with annual funding of ₹5 lakh provided by the district panchayat and ₹1 lakh from the block panchayat.
The Kavalam Primary Health Centre recently underwent an upgrade to become a Family Health Centre, enhancing its capacity to deliver health-related activities more effectively. A new facility, constructed at a cost of ₹56.5 lakh, now serves an average of 175 daily visitors. Staffing includes health inspectors, junior health inspectors, and public health nurses. The centre offers laboratory facilities for tests related to lifestyle diseases, urine analysis, and fever. Additionally, a monthly special outpatient clinic provides mental health support, currently treating 42 patients.
Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/kavalam-panchayat-lays-stress-on-palliative-services/article70124432.ece