Floating dispensary at Valanthakkad

KOCHI: A bridge that connects Valanthakkad island to the city has always been my dream project,” Excise Minister K Babu has said. He said this at a function after launching a floating dispensary near Valanthakkad Primary Health Care Centre on Friday.“The dispensary would be of great help to people living in areas like Kettezhuthumkadavu, Cheppanam and Chathamma. Maradu South Island would also benefit from this project,” Babu said.The floating dispensary is a project designed by the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) to protect and help those areas that have been sidelined, the Minister said.In the newly designed scheme, the floating dispensary will concentrate mainly on six boat jetties. As per the schedule, the services will be made available once in a week (except Sundays) at all jetties. The services of doctors, nurses and pharmacists will be made available at the dispensary, that will also function as an ambulance during emergencies. The dispensary will be open from 9 am to 3 pm. “Projects are also being devised to bring about health awareness programmes, laboratory facilities and the like,” he said.Maradu municipality chairman T K Devarajan presided over the function.