The minister yesterday visited five primary health centres (PHCs) in the district and also inspected the manner in which malnourished children and mothers were being treated.
His visit comes after National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issued notice to state government yesterday over the large scale deaths of children in Palghar, especially in Mokhada taluka, allegedly due to malnourishment.
The five centres included Shenva, Takipatar, Dolkhamb, Kasara and Khardi.
Sawant also directed the teams to start VCDC for better child care and also instructed that those needing further treatment should be sent to Child Treatment Centre (CTC) and Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres (NRC).
He directed district health officer B S Sonawane to explore the possibility of setting up a trauma care centre at Kasara and a rural hospital at Dolkhamb village and asked him to submit a proposal to the government in this regard.