CM Hemant Soren inducts transgender to don govt nurse hat in Jharkhand  

Hemant Soren handed over appointment letters to 365 community health officers at Ranchi’s Project Bhavan

Ranchi, August 29: For the first time in Jharkhand, a transgender will take charge of a community health centre. Amir Mahto, a resident of Manoharpur in West Singhbhum, has been appointed as a community health officer by the health department.

On Thursday, Chief Minister Hemant Soren handed over the appointment letter to Amir Mahto at a function in Ranchi.

Amir Mahto, who was appointed in Jharkhand after doing MSc Nursing from Sambalpur Nursing College in Odisha, expressed happiness and said it was unexpect to be reinstated as a community health officer.

“I know what is a struggle is for a transgender, despite this I am happy at being successful in getting a government job and fulfilling my mother’s dream who wanted to be a nurse,” said Mahto.

Amir Mahto says that she did not face any problem even in college days.

Transgender Amit Mahato, who has served in Patna AIIMS, says boldly that she will not discriminate between male and female patients in hospitals and will not face any problem in providing service.

After studying BSc Nursing from RIMS, Ranchi Amir Mahato completed MSc Nursing from Sambalpur Nursing College.

Meanwhile, in order to address shortage of doctors in state-run hospitals, the Jharkhand government has decided to rope in private doctors to provide treatment in facilities where there is a lack of specialists.

This was announced by the government during distribution of appointment letters to 365 community health officers (CHOs) by Hemant Soren on Thursday.

“The government is continuously working to enhance health infrastructure in the state. We have undertaken several initiatives in this regard and are developing a system so that residents do not need to seek treatment in other states,” the Chief Minister said.

“To tackle the shortage of specialist doctors, particularly in community health centres and district hospitals, the government has decided to allow private doctors to provide treatment in these facilities. They will be offered incentives for their services,” state health secretary Ajoy Kumar Singh said.

The CM also highlighted the recent launch of schemes aimed at improving cleanliness, repairs, and maintenance of health centres, hospitals, and medical colleges. An annual budget of Rs 5 crore has been allocated for these purpose, he said.

“A provision of Rs 2 lakh for sub-health centres, Rs 5 lakh for primary health centres, Rs 10 lakh for community health centres, Rs 50 lakh for sub-divisional hospitals and Rs 75 lakh for district hospitals annually has been kept for the purpose of cleanliness and maintenance,” Soren said.
Additionally, the CM mentioned significant recruitment efforts in the health sector and other areas to boost manpower.

“Thousands of recruitments are underway, even though some critics continue to target the government on employment issues,” Soren said, apparently responding to criticism from the BJP without naming the party.