PUNE May is mental health awareness month, which emphasises the value of mental health for patients with various illnesses. However, Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is operating with just three counsellors while running several health programmes in the city.
PMC health department conducts national Aids control programme, tuberculosis elimination, health programme for women and children and immunisation programmes among others. The patients treated and diagnosed under various programmes have to be counselled to make sure they complete the treatment.
The civic body had appointed 12 counsellors in October last year on contract for a period of six months. The contract got over on April 1, 2023.
PMC currently has five permanent posts for counsellors out of which two are vacant. The civic body wants to increase the post of counsellors from 5 to 25 as they largely depend on temporary counsellors, said officials.
Dr Suryakant Devkar, assistant health officer of PMC, said currently they don’t have any counsellors available for the national Aids control programme being conducted in the city. “The counsellors are attached to the maternity homes as testing of Antenatal Care (ANC) is important. The expecting mothers who are diagnosed with HIV get mentally shattered. Then they have to be counselled on how they can cope with the situation. Also, they are counselled on how they can live a normal life with the help of available medicines etc,” he said.
Currently, the decision for the appointment of the counsellors is under audit. After which it will be sent to PMC commissioner for approval. After approval, the public notice for employment will be issued. After which the appointment interviews and other processes will be completed and they will be appointed. It is likely to be complete by June, said officials.
{{/usCountry}}Currently, the decision for the appointment of the counsellors is under audit. After which it will be sent to PMC commissioner for approval. After approval, the public notice for employment will be issued. After which the appointment interviews and other processes will be completed and they will be appointed. It is likely to be complete by June, said officials.
{{/usCountry}}Dr Prashant Bothe, city TB officer, said that counselling is important when it comes to the treatment of TB patients. The treatment and diet have to be followed for a long term in TB. “We don’t have any posts for the counsellors for TB patients. Currently, the counselling is done by members of non -government organisation. We have also trained the senior treatment supervisors to provide counselling to TB patients,” he said.
Dr Bhagwan Pawar, health officer of PMC, said the work to appoint new counsellors on a contract basis is under process and will be completed soon. “We are working on strengthening the mental health programme in the city,” he said.