Medical Services in Manipur

Medical facilities in the state were mainly provided by the State Government. It is the basic social input for healthy and efficient human resources. The Health and Family Welfare Department is providing services such as public health, control of communicable diseases, health education, family welfare, maternal and child health care through a network of 13 Civil Hospitals, 72 Primary Health Centres, 420 Primary Health Sub-Centres, 16 Community Health Centres, 20 Dispensaries as on 3l-3-2006. Special attention was also given from time to time to eradicate diseases like malaria, leprosy, T.B., Iodine Deficiency and Aids.

Number of hospitals/dispensaries and beds available in Manipur:

(in nos.)

Source: Economic Survey Manipur 2008-09

During the year 1990-91, medical health care facilities were available to the people of Manipur through a network of 561 hospitals/dispensaries with 1,873 beds available. The number of medical hospitals/dispensaries (including PHC’s and PHSC’s) was 541 in 2005-06, while the bed strength was 2290. The coverage of population per doctor/nurse is indicated in table below.

Number of doctors and nurses employed and patients treated in Manipur:

Source: Economic Survey Manipur 2008-09

State Health and Family Welfare Programme:

A brief description of various health and family welfare programmes carried out in the state during 2004-2005 is summarized below.

1. Rural Health Scheme:

Under this scheme health guides are engaged for providing better health care to the people in the state. They are also significantly contributing towards malaria surveillance, family welfare and immunization activities.

2. National Malaria Eradication Programme (NMEP):

This programme was implemented in the state as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme from December, 1994. During January to December, 2004, 1.54 lakhs blood slides were collected and examined. The programme could tackle malaria problems more effectively. Youth and voluntary organisations have been actively involved in malaria control activities. Since March, 2004, the nomenclature of the programme, NAMP has been changed to National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP).

3. National Leprosy Control Programme (NLCP):

This programme was started during 1955 as a control programme under ‘Mono-Drug Therapy’ giving more stress on survey, Education and Treatment. The objective of the programme is to reduce the number of active leprosy cases by fifty percent. Under this programme, 166 new cases were detected and recorded against the target of 80 cases during 2001-02. During 2004-2005 against the target of 80 cases to be cured and discharged, 46 cases could be achieved accounting 58 percent of the target.

4. National T .B. Control Programme (NTCP):

Under this programme, 100 bedded T.B. Hospital at Chingmeirong, 2 T.B. Clinics, one each at Churachandpur and Ukhrul and 4 District T.B. control centres one each at Imphal, Senapati, Tamenglong and Chandel are functioning since 1984-85.

The B.C.G. vaccination programme which is one of the most important Component of the T.B. Control Programme continued to provide B.C.G. vaccination to all eligible Children.

R.N.T.C.P. project funded by the World Bank has been complemented in all the districts of Manipur State. Under the project all anti T.B. drugs are made available free of cost.

5. National Programme for Control of Blindness (NPCB):

The objective of this programme is to reduce the incidence of blindness from the estimated level of 1.35% to 0.7%. During 2000-01 the number of patients treated under NPCB was 41,333.

6. Maternal Child Health-Cum-Expanded ed Programme on Immunisation:

In order to curb the infant mortality rate and to provide safeguard against serious diseases, an intensive ‘Child Immunisation Programme’ is being implemented in the State. The objective of the programme is to cover 100 percent of pregnant women with 2 or a boosters dose of T.T. and at least 85 percent of the infants with 3 doses of D.P.T. and Polio and one dose of B.C.G and measles vaccine. Performance of the Programme was remarkable during 2000-01.

7. National Aids Control Programme:

AIDS (Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome) has become a major public health problem in the state since 1990. It is affecting a number of youths in Manipur. According to the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), Manipur ranks third highest as regarding the total number of HIV positive cases next to Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu states. The State Government with the help of National AIDS Control Organisation took up various activities in order to advert this looming catastrophic. The following measures were taken up (i) 100 percent blood safety has been achieved in all the blood banks in Manipur (ii) AIDS education in school has been introduced beginning from class VI, VII, VIII and X (iii) More than 81 percent of doctors and 80 percent of nurses/paramedicals have been trained in AIDS and related problems (iv) For the first time in India, the Manipur state AIDS policy was implemented (v) the number of NGOs financially supported by the National AIDS Control Programme has been increased (vi) Broaden partnership with NGOs. During the years 2004 and 2005, 6,854 and 1,745 nos. of blood samples were screened out of which 2,019 in 2004 and 515 in 2005 were reported to be of HIV positive cases. During the year 2002 (upto Oct.), 4,495 nos. of blood samples were screened and 1,191 were reported as HIV positive. During 2005, 63 AIDS cases were reported of which 14 were died. Following shows the yearly trends of HIV/AIDS surveillance.

Source: Economic Survey Manipur 2008-09

Among the districts, Ukhrul district had the highest Sero-positive rate (HIV positive cases) followed by Chandel and Churachandpur districts. The rates were recorded as 43.86 percent, 34.51 percent and 33.01 percent respectively as on 31st March, 2005. The district wise distribution of HIV Positive Cases (Sero-Surveillance) was presented in table below.

District-wise distribution of HIV Positive Cases (Sero-Surveillance) as 31st March, 2005:

(in No.)

Source: Economic Survey Manipur 2008-09