Dimapur, April 23 (EMN): To bring healthcare services closer to homes, Department of Health and Family Welfare under National Health Mission (NHM) has announced to upgrade 61 health centres including 56 Sub-Centres (SCs), two Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and three Urban Primary health Centres (UPHCs) to Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) across the state during its first phase.
In a run-up to its implementation, a three-day induction training of Community Health Officers (CHOs), who are to be posted in HWCs across the state, got underway on April 23 in the conference hall of Directorate of Health and Family Welfare, Kohima.
Addressing the selected CHOs, Dr. Vikeyie Losu, Principal Director DoHFW, explained that the whole concept of inducting CHOs was to give importance to newer initiative under NHM from the grass-root level and to provide universal healthcare to the people. He mentioned that the concept of upgrading SCs and PHCs to HWCs was to bring healthcare more accessible and affordable to the people.
Dr. Kevichusa Medikhru, Mission Director of National Health Mission, while highlighting on the objectives of the workshop, pointed out that the main focus of the CHOs was to make change in the sub-centres. He, however, stated that the upgradation of SCs and PHCs to HWCs was not to bring changes in terms of infrastructure for a bigger buildings and making it more attractive but rather focus on increased activities and making health services more available.
A department press release stated that one of the main changes in inducting CHOs was to avail screening of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and reduce the out of pocket expenditure in the rural sector. It stated that CHOs are expected to perform continuity of health service and bring about innovative changes in their respective posting places according to the needs of the community.
The Mission Director encouraged the newly instated officers to take up the responsibilities as a challenge and adventure to serve the people. Mentioning that all programmes are important for the welfare of the people, he stated that the workshop was organised with the help of all the programme officers to refurbish and educate them with more knowledge to be prepared before their postings.
Delivering the vote of thanks, Dr. Thanghoi Lam, SPO NHM, acknowledged the developmental partner Jhpiego, IGNOU, medical superintendent, all supporting officers and staff of NHM for making the induction of CHOs a successful one.
He also advised the new officers to be ready to manage everything at the sub-centre level and to carry on the activities with immediate effect and provide the universal health coverage.
The induction workshop was chaired by Dr. Manyau Phom, NHM Deputy Director. Altogether, 40 CHOs will be posted in different sub-centres – HWCs across the state.
Highlights of the three-day workshop would include sessions on child health, maternal health, family planning, adolescents health, non-communicable disease, financial norms, community process, record keeping, PMJAY (medical insurance), and national leprosy programme.
Health and Wellness Centre was launched in order to transform the existing sub-centres and primary health centres to health and wellness centres to provide comprehensive primary healthcare to the people.
12 packages in HWCs
1. Care in pregnancy and child-birth
2. Neonatal and infant healthcare services
3. Childhood and adolescent healthcare services
4. Family planning, contraceptive services and other reproductive healthcare services
5. Management of communicable diseases: National health programmes
6. General out-patient care for acute simple illnesses and minor ailments
7. Screening, prevention, control and management of non-communicable diseases
8. Care for common ophthalmic and ENT problems
9. Basic oral healthcare
10. Elderly and palliative healthcare services
11. Emergency medical services including burns and trauma
12. Screening and basic management of mental health ailments
