The State Health Ministers conference has resolved to step up measures to contain communicable diseases and reduce mother and child mortality rate. This was decided at the three day conference that came to a close in Hyderabad on Thursday evening. After reviewing the state of implementation of various health programmes, the conference has released Hyderabad declaration – an action plan for strengthening health sector in the country. Giving the details of the action plan, Union Health and Family Welfare Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad said a massive awareness programme will be taken up against vector borne diseases under National Rural Health Mission and the Zilla Parishads would be involved in implementation of the public health and sanitation programme. It was also decided to screen all individuals over 30 years of age for diabetes, hypertension and other non-communicable diseases, he said.The meeting has unanimously agreed to introduce Bachelor Rural health Care course to overcome the shortage of doctors in remote and hilly areas in the country. According to the action plan, the states would increase MBBS seats to 250 in all Government Medical Colleges across the country.