Meriema gets wellness centre under Ayushman Bharat project

Dimapur, Feb. 22 (EMN): The principal secretary for Health and Family Welfare, I Himato Zhimomi on Friday launched the sub centre-health and wellness centre under Ayushman Bharat scheme at Meriema in Kohima.

Acording to a DIPR report, Zhimomi said that underthe Ayushman Bharat project there are “two pillars”— National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS), and Health and Wellness Centre (HWC). Nagaland, he said, was launching the Health and Wellness Centre on Friday with 56 centres across the state.

Under the NHPS, Zhimomi shared, any person registered under the the schemes will get cashless benefit worth INR 5 lakh in the event of ailment. He also urged the churches to come forward and create awareness to the people on “how to stay healthy and happily with our fellow citizens.”

Different activities have been conducted as part of this programme in order to spread the message of the importance of staying fit and healthy, he added.

The mission director of National Health Mission, Nagaland, Dr. Kevichusa Medikhru said that the ministry of Health and Family Welfare has envisaged the upgrade of all 1.5 lakh SCs to Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) in the country providing comprehensive primary healthcare by December 2022.

Similarly, he said, the state’s department of Health and Family Welfare has upgraded three UPHCs and two PHCs. He said that the key principal of the programme is to bring healthcare closer to home. The centre will be equipped with a comprehensive laboratory, (19 test HWC-PHC and 7 test in HWC-SC) pharmacy, robust IT system, essential drugs and supplies and proper infrastructure with provision for wellness activities.

“There will be 12 packages of service in HWC such as care in pregnancy and childbirth, neonatal and infant healthcare service, childhood and adolescent healthcare services, family planning, contraceptive services and other reproductive healthcare services, management of communicable diseases: national health programmes, general out-patient care for acute simple illnesses and minor ailments, screening, prevention, control and management of non-communicable diseases, care of common ophthalmic and ENT problems, basic oral healthcare services, elderly and palliative healthcare services, emergency medical services including burns and trauma and screening and basic management of mental health ailments,” the report quoted him as saying.

Medikhru also said that Community Health Officer (BSc. Nursing/GNM with field experiences) who has undergone six month intensive training will be posted at the centre. He urged the community to utilise the services provided for all healthcare facilities.

He also requested the community to extend their cooperation to the department. The chairman of Meriema village council, Kelhoupralie Whuorie in his short speech thanked the government bureaucrats and officials for upgrading the sub centre to Health and Wellness Centre; and launching the centre for the benefit of the community in the village.