AGARTALA, Dec 13 (TIWN): Addressing the 15th Annual Conference of the Association of Physicians of India on Sunday, Health and Family Welfare Minister Badal Choudhury urged to focus on the welfare of the mother and children in the State and to take initiatives to pull down the percent of infant mortality from 26 percent to 20 percent.

Focusing on the infant mortality rate, Health Minister said that 40 percent has been recorded at the National Level and 26 percent in the State Level. Besides, urging to pull down the level of the infant mortality, he said to take initiatives to bring down the mortality rate to 20 percent.

Every Gram Panchayat has medical sub-centres. Detailing about the chain of the health centre in the State, He further said that joining 4 to 5 Medical Sub- Centres a Primary Health Centre is formed. Rest joining few Primary Heath Centre a Community Health is formed and at the last a Sub-Divisional Hospitals, said Health Minister.

Besides, he also mentioned that 95 percent of people are dependent on the facility of the State Government Hospitals as there are dearths of private hospitals. However, accept ILS no other private and corporate sector has any development, said Badal Choudhury.

Speaking at the Karl Landsteiner Auditorium, Minister Choudhury mentioned that number of blocks have increased in the State and therefore it still a matter of discussion that whether set up of PHC is possible in all the blocks.

Besides, he also provided a clean chit at the programme, saying that if any private organization is interested to set up any Hospital than the State would welcome the initiatives as it is regarding the betterment of the people.

Later, focusing of the State own Government Medical College which includes Agartala Government Medical College and Tripura Medical College, Health Minister mentioned that though the numbers of students are more in the colleges but it lacks good faculty.

However, he further said that this kind of interaction programme would help to increase knowledge among people and the youths.

During the programme, Chairman of TMC Banamali Sinha, Chairman of TAPI Anil Chandra Debnath and others were present.