Ranchi:Jharkhand Health MinisterDr Irfan Ansarihanded overappointmentletters to 91 Community Health Officers (CHOs) in a ceremony recently held at the Public Health Institute Auditorium in Namkum. Addressing the newly appointed officers, Dr. Ansari said, " While challenges may come their way, the government would stand firmly behind them. If we have given the job, we will also protect them", reports UNI. The minister emphasized that significant efforts are underway to strengthen the state’s health system. Also Read:Jharkhand appoints 126 Specialist doctors through lowest honorarium bids He stated that several improvements, which had been pending for over two decades, are now being executed at a rapid pace. Sharing his experiences from a recent tour of Bokaro, he announced that MRI and CT scan machines will be compulsorily installed in all Sadar hospitals, as patients had raised concerns about the hardships faced due to their absence. Highlighting new projects, Dr. Ansari announced that a 2,100-bedded super specialty kidney hospital will soon be constructed in Jharkhand, offering advanced treatment, including kidney transplants. This, he said, will end the need for patients to travel outside the state for specialized care. He also assured that the long-awaited Medico City and six new medical colleges will be completed on time. Additional Chief Secretary of the Health Department, Ajay Kumar Singh, said, " Despite limited resources, Jharkhand’s health performance has surpassed the national average in several indicators. The state recorded an infant mortality rate of 25 compared to the national average of 28, and a maternal mortality rate of 56 against the national average of 97. Institutional deliveries stood at 75 per cent, compared to the national average of 88.6 per cent. Singh emphasized that these achievements provide both encouragement and direction for further improvements. " Senior officials, including National Health Mission Campaign Director Shashi Prakash Jha, Jharkhand Medical Corporation Managing Director Abu Imran, and Principal Director of Health Services Dr. Siddharth Sanyal, were present at the ceremony. Also Read:Jharkhand HC slams Govt over vacant posts, equipment shortage at RIMS