Gujarat health facilities clear over five lakh unused items under statewide cleanliness campaign

Gandhinagar, July 6 (IANS) More than five lakh unused items have been removed from government healthcare facilities across Gujarat during six days of the state-wide 'Namo Swachhata Abhiyan', freeing 1,677 rooms for future use and completing repairs to over 34,000 pieces of equipment and infrastructure, according to the state Health Department.

The campaign, launched under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, is being conducted from July 1 to 7 across government health institutions ranging from sub-centres to medical colleges and hospitals.

According to the Health Department, 5,49,897 unused items have been identified across more than 12,000 healthcare institutions since the campaign began.

Of these, 5,03,329 items have been disposed of on-site, while the remaining identified material is being disposed of in accordance with prescribed procedures.

The department said the clearance drive has resulted in 1,677 rooms being vacated, which will be available for future use, including to improve patient facilities.

On the sixth day of the campaign alone, more than 38,000 unused items were identified across over 12,000 health institutions. More than 4.47 lakh items were disposed of on-site, clearing around 165 rooms for future use.

Disposal of the remaining identified items is continuing as per established procedures.

The department also said that more than 23,000 items, including wooden and iron furniture, ambulances, government vehicles, electronics and IT equipment, and medical equipment, were repaired on the sixth day of the campaign.

Overall, approximately 34,166 such items have been repaired during the first six days.

"The campaign has focused on removing scrap, junk and other unused materials from hospital premises, carrying out thorough cleaning of buildings and campuses, ensuring the availability of safe drinking water, and undertaking necessary pipeline repairs," officials said.

The drive has also included fire and electrical safety checks, repairs to hospital furniture, minor civil works, and measures to improve infection prevention and control, thereby enhancing the functioning of government healthcare facilities.

The state-wide 'Namo Swachhata Abhiyan' was launched from the GMERS Auditorium in Gandhinagar by the Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel in the presence of Health Minister Praful Pansheriya.

The special cleanliness campaign is scheduled to conclude on July 7.

--IANS

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