Jammu, July 02: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India has approved the setting up of J&K’s first ‘Milk Bank’ i.e., Comprehensive Lactation Management Centre (CLMC) in the Maternity Hospital (MCH), Gandhinagar, Jammu at a cost of Rs 47.20 lakh under National Health Mission (NHM).
As per a communiqué of Mission Director, National Health Mission to the Government Medical College (GMC) Principal, the sanctioned amount of Rs 47.20 lakh comprises Rs 16.61 lakh for infrastructure creation and Rs 30. 59 lakh for equipment, furniture, supplies, consumables and maintenance cost for establishment of ‘Milk Bank.’
Amount has been approved under NHM SPIP (State Programme Implementation Plan) for the financial year 2024-25. Accordingly, the same will be allocated to the MCH, Gandhinagar Jammu in the provisional budget sheet of 2024-25, after approval from the chairman Executive Committee, State Health Society, NHM, J&K.
Following authorization, GMC Principal has been asked to initiate the process of establishment of CLMC at MCH, Gandhinagar, Jammu as per the guidelines and approval of the MoHFW, GoI. It will be established at the third floor of MCH, Gandhinagar.
GMC Principal Dr Ashutosh Gupta and Dr Arun Sharma have extended gratitude to Dr Syed Abid Rasheed Shah Administrative Secretary H&ME Department J&K, Nazim Z Khan MD NHM JK for sanctioning ‘Milk Bank’ – the first of its kind in J&K. “Maternity hospital Gandhinagar is already running state of art 150 bedded NICU and taking load of SMGS Hospital as well as periphery to manage all sick neonates. Besides, the Department of Gynae and Obstetrics are also operating patients, admitting pregnant women along with OPD,” Dr Sharma said.