Bhubaneswar: Odisha Health and Family Welfare Minister Mukesh Mahaling on Wednesday directed authorities to ensure the highest quality standards in all government and private nursing colleges and training institutions across the state, warning that strict action would be taken against institutions found violating prescribed norms.
Chairing a high-level meeting on nursing colleges and public health at the Health and Family Welfare Department, the Minister stressed that strict compliance with regulatory standards is essential for developing a robust nursing education system in Odisha. He said the quality of education, student safety and training standards must remain the highest priority and asserted that no irregularity would be tolerated.
Mahaling instructed all District Collectors to carry out impartial and comprehensive inspections of private nursing educational institutions in their respective districts through district-level inspection teams constituted by the Health and Family Welfare Department. He also directed that District Fire Officers be included in the inspection teams to assess compliance with fire safety norms.
The Minister asked District Collectors to submit their inspection reports to the Directorate of Medical Education and Training (DMET) by the end of July and directed officials to initiate stringent action against institutions found guilty of irregularities.
The meeting also reviewed the state’s preparedness to tackle water-borne and vector-borne diseases during the monsoon and the ongoing Rath Yatra period, when the risk of infections typically increases.
Mahaling assessed the progress of the ‘Stop Diarrhoea Campaign’, being jointly implemented by the Health and Family Welfare Department and the Panchayati Raj Department from June 16 to July 31. Under the campaign, drinking water sources are being disinfected, while ASHA workers and health personnel are conducting door-to-door visits to distribute oral rehydration salts (ORS) and zinc tablets and educate people on preventive measures against diarrhoea, dengue, chikungunya, malaria and other seasonal diseases.
Health and Family Welfare Commissioner-cum-Secretary Aswathy S., along with senior departmental officials and directors, attended the meeting. District Collectors and Chief District Medical and Public Health Officers from across the state joined the review through virtual mode.
