Malappuram: Construction of a new primary health centre at Panakkad has commenced on land donated by the Panakkad Thangal family. The facility, a long-pending need in the area, is coming up near Panakkad Edayipalam along the Parappanangady Road.

For the past decade, the health centre has been operating out of a rented building here. Serving not just residents of Malappuram Municipality, but also patients from nearby panchayats, the centre caters to hundreds of people daily. The new three-storey building will feature modern medical infrastructure, including lift facility, consultation rooms, outpatient services, a pharmacy and a diagnostic lab. A compound wall and air-conditioning are also part of the plan.

The municipality has already earmarked ₹2.10 crore for the first phase of construction. The building is expected to significantly enhance primary healthcare services in the region.

The inauguration of the construction was held in a celebratory atmosphere, with Panakkad Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal formally launching the work. Municipal Chairperson Mujeeb Kaderi presided over the event. Among those present were Abas Ali Shihab Thangal, Rashid Ali Shihab Thangal, MLAs P Abdulhameed and P Ubadulla, standing committee chairpersons Abdul Hameed and P K Sakeer Hussain and ward members Ayishabi Ummar, E P Selma, Shafi Moozhikkal, C K Saheer, Shihab Modayangadan, Mehmood Kothengal and A P Shihab.