Lady Reading Health School
(Government of India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare)
Historical Perspective
The First training institution for Health Visitors was started in Delhi in 1918 with 12 students under the auspices of the Countess of Dufferin Fund through the efforts mainly of Dr. M. I. Balfour, the then Secretary. Subsequently, the School became one of the centers of activity of the Lady Chelmsford League when the Dufferin fund was absorbed by the former. The Government of India sanctioned an annual grant of Rs.6,000.
In 1925, Lady Reading, wife of the Viceroy of the time, presented about one lakh of rupees from funds at her disposal towards the provision of a suitable building together with a model Welfare Centre for the practical training of students. Thus the School was named after the donor.
The amalgamation of the Lady Chelmsford League with the Indian Red Cross Society took place in 1931 and all the Child Welfare Work performed by both the bodies was transferred to the Maternity and Child Welfare Bureau under the Red Cross Society. Lady Reading Health School (LRHS), Delhi is considered as one of the pioneer institution. In 1952 the Government of India took over the school and attached Ram Chand Lohia MCH Centre. Initially total capacity of the school was 24 Health Visitors trainees from all over India and neighboring countries. Duration of the course was one and half years for matriculates who were qualified midwives, which was replaced by two and half years integrated course for health visitor in 1954. Since than LRHS is providing training to different categories of Nursing candidates specialization in community Health Nursing.
- 1918 - Lady Reading Health School, Delhi & Nutrition Research Laboratory, Coonoor was established. 1919 - First step in decentralization of health administration. Montague - Chelmsford Constitutional Reforms - transfer of public health, sanitation and vital statistics under the control of elected minister.
- Thus in 1920 a Health Schools to train "Lady Health Visitors" was started at Nicholson Road. Delhi Where dais were trained . Later in 1926, It was Shiffted to Bara Hindu Rao and named as Lady Reading Health School.
- In 1956 Government also attached Ram Chand Lohia MCH and Family Welfare Centre with full time Lady Medical Officer at LRHS for training of the students & catering the community aprox 40,000.
- DNEA (Diploma in Nursing Education & Administration) Started for trained staff nurses in the year 1976.
- In the year 1977 LHV course ( full time) was stopped and started Promotional Course for ANMs (Auxiliary Nurse Midwife) which help the working ANMs to be promoted as LHVs. The duration of the course is six months and till date we are running this course with student's intake capacity of 40 per year from all over India.
- In the year 1985 ANM Training started with intake capacity of 40 every year. The duration of the course was 1.5 Years.
- In 1990 ANM Training converted into ANM (vocational) and duration of the course changed from 1.5 years to 2 years and minimum qualification for entrance was matriculation/10 th Pass. Examination was conducted by CBSE and passed candidate were given 10+2 certificate by CBSE and ANM certificate by Punjab nursing council and than by Delhi Nursing Council.
- DNEA course than changed to DPHN (Diploma in Public Health Nurse) in the year 1988 by seeing the need of the country for providing public health services with the recommendation of BHORE COMMITTEE (1946) and MUDALIAR COMMITTEE (1962).
- In the year 2006 the school came direct under Ministry of Health and Family welfare (MOHFW).
- As per the guidelines of Indian Nursing Council the DNEA course was stopped in the year 2012.
- In the year 2012 the ANM course came under DNC (Delhi Nursing Council) and now the examining and certifying body is DNC, Intake capacity of ANM students enhanced from 20 to 40 in the year 2008. The eligibility criteria also changed from 10 th pass to 12 th pass.
- Admission process of ANM course is through Combined Entrance Examination for Lady Reading Health School and Rural Health Training Centre, Najafgarh.
