Kamal Ghorui
Bhubaneswar: The health and family welfare department restructured the Odisha Health Extension and Communication Service cadre for smooth and efficient management of public health communication matters in the state.The department has 314 existing posts of public health extension officers (PHEOs). These posts were abolished, and 317 posts of public health communication officers (PHCOs) were created but the level and pay of these officers increased.There are 26 assistant district public health communication officer (ADPHCO) posts in the state. After restructuring, the number of posts increased to 60. Similarly, the number of district public health communication officer (DPHCO) has been increased to 31.As many as 58 more posts were created after cadre restructuring. Now, the total cadre strength will be 412 posts. PHCO posts are base-level or entry-level posts. “These posts will be filled by way of direct recruitment in the upcoming days, by stipulating the Master in Public Health (MPH) as the educational qualification for such posts, and they will work at the block levels of the state,” said the official resolution issued on Thursday.After working as a PHCO for 7 years, the officer will be promoted to ADPHCO. After 1 year of regular service as an ADPHCO, the officer will be promoted to DPHCO.The cadre restructuring will bring a factual change in public health-seeking behaviour, improve community health practices, provide better scope for universal health coverage and quick response to emergency public health activities, streamline and upscale health communication and training activities, and enable effective assessment of public health needs, planning, and implementation of health programmes.“Necessary changes in the Odisha Health Extension and Communication Service Cadre Rules, 2013 will be made by the Health and Family Welfare Department in due course,” said the official resolution.
