DIMAPUR — Expounding that healthcare service has emerged as one of the basic human rights, the commissioner and secretary of Health and Family Welfare, V Kezo, encouraged the health officials not only to be satisfied with routine duties but go beyond in transforming the health seeking behavior of the people and also create an enabling environment.
He stated this during the inaugural programme of a five-day training on expanded packages of services under comprehensive primary health care (CPHC) for medical officers of primary health centres (PHC) and urban primary health centre (UPHC), which got underway on Tuesday at the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare in Kohima.
While expressing hope that the training would re-orient the way the medical professional perform their duties and responsibilities, Kezo appealed to the medical professionals to take the extra mile and make a decision to be a powerful agent of change, stated an update from the Health department.
He also appreciated the commendable performance of Chunlikha PHC on how they are managing the health units in an innovative way, thereby showing an example of understanding their responsibilities and bringing about a positive change.
The principal director of Health department, Dr. Ritu Thurr, welcomed the trainees and stated that primary health centre is the first contact point of the community and it is their responsibility to carry out all the services available.
Describing medical profession as a noble profession, Dr. Thurr reminded that they have entered into the profession by choice and not by chance. In this regard, he appealed to rededicate, respect the medical ethics, values and commit themselves in delivering comprehensive healthcare service to the community.
In his keynote address, Dr. E Motsuthung Patton, mission director of National Health Mission (NHM), appealed to the doctors to come together in ensuring quality healthcare for every citizens and transforming the public health system in the state.
Giving and overview of CPHC, Dr. Mereninla Senlem, NHM state programme officer, stated that the programme was intended in reducing out-of-pocket expenses and bringing healthcare closer to the doorstep of the people.
Report stated that Chunlikha Primary Health Center (PHC) was felicitated for receiving the National Quality Assurance Standard (NQAS) certification from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, during the inaugural programme. The award was given away by the commissioner and secretary to the medical officer in-charge of PHC Chunlikha, Dr. Cheyale Kath.
The inaugural programme was chaired by Dr. Manyau, deputy director of NHM, while the vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. Akuo Sorhie, director of Health and Family Welfare department.
Report stated that medical officers would be trained on the twelve expanded packages of services namely care in pregnancy and child-birth, neonatal and infant healthcare services, childhood and adolescent healthcare services, family planning, contraceptive services and other reproductive healthcare services, management of communicable diseases, general out-patient care for acute simple illnesses and minor ailments, screening, prevention, control and management of non-communicable diseases, care for common ophthalmic and ENT problems, basic oral healthcare, elderly and palliative healthcare services, emergency medical services including burns and trauma, screening and basic management of mental health ailments during the five-day programme.
