Koraput: A 50-bed model maternity and child health care ward at Phulobado, situated on the outskirts of Jeypore, is yet to start functioning even though a year has elapsed since its inauguration.

The health care centre was built for over Rs 8 crore with aim to arrest the infant mortality rate (IMR) and the maternity mortality rate (MMR) in the tribal-dominated district by promoting institutional deliveries.

The IMR is more than 40 per 1000 live births and the MMR is 175 per one lakh live birth in the district mainly due to non-institutional deliveries.

The National Health Mission provided the funds and chief minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurated the facility during his visit to Jeypore in December 2016.

"This ward can help expecting women and newborns of this tribal district. The construction of the building has not been completed due to the apathetic attitude of the officials," said Jeypore MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati.

"I approached the health department to make it operational at the earliest," he said.

The five-storey ward is spread over 7,000sqft and will be have sophisticated equipment to take care of mothers and newborns. All post-delivery and critical cases can be treated at the new ward.

An official said though majority work had been completed, some minor alteration was required to make the ward operational.

"The building requires an approach road and installation of fire safety measures. Some interior work in the building also remains to be done. The works department, which is constructing the building, has been urged to hand it over soon and we expect to make it operational within two months," said Koraput chief district medical officer Lalit Kumar Rath.

According to the officer, as the sub-divisional hospital of Jeypore was accorded district hospital status in August 2016, it would function as the district hospital from the MCH building and for it necessary changes was being carried out.