Dimapur, July 4 (EMN): A ‘public dialogue,’ stated to be part of the National Health Mission’s community action for health, was conducted on July 3 in the council hall of Sechü-Zubza in Kohima district.
The programme was conducted under the aegis of the chief medical officer for Kohima, a press release to the media stated on Thursday.
Kohima’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Laso Lazar, said in his address at the event that community action for health was a mechanism to improve accountability and to enable better delivery of services.
This can build community awareness on health entitlements and initiate corrective action and planning with community engagement, the press release stated.
‘It also provides a platform for community feedback and dialogue with service provider for grievances redressal and also lead to improved coverage and accessibility of health services which in essence brings ‘public’ back into public health,’ the press release claimed.
Another medical officer, Dr. Rupert Peseyie, gave an overview of the “public dialogue” or ‘Jan Samvad’ explaining that it presents an ‘opportunity for dialogue’ between the community and service providers.
Report cards, facility report cards of the health units in Sechü block were presented at the event. A discussion on the implementation of outreach services of the National Health Mission, issues about improving the quality of care and support were held during the programme, the updates stated. “Presentation of adverse outcomes cases were put across by the participants specially the village councils and ASHAs. Issues and queries were resolved, action plan for issues that needs to be resolved at state level were cater and addressed,” the updates stated.
Saurabh Raj, program manager of the advisory group for Community Action for Health at New Delhi, was quoted as having stated that in providing health services to the public, the community should not suffer because of lack of infrastructure or ‘consumables drug.’
Raj said that the department needs to work backwards to address such issues for better implementation of the programme, the updates stated.
