Correspondent
Kohima, February 24
In accordance with the Central programme to uplift the health of the urban poor in the State, Health and Family Welfare Minister Imkong L Imchen today launched the National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) for Kohima and Dimapur districts.Addressing the gathering during the official launching programme in the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare this morning, Imchen said urban growth has led to rapid increase in number of urban poor population, many of whom live in slums and other squatter settlements.
A total of 1.75 lakh urban poor population will be covered under NUHM covering the two districts of Kohima and Dimapur with an amount of Rs 1 crore. 98,096 people in Dimapur district while 77,030 people in Kohima district will benefit from the programme.
Expressing that while the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission is beginning to tackle the urban infrastructure issues, he said urban health issues need immediate attention, especially in the context of the urban poor.
“It also needs attention from a public health perspective,” he said while adding that Government of India’s policy commitment to ensure “Health for all” is envisaged with the advent of NUHM.
NUHM is launched in order to effectively address the health concerns of the urban poor population, he said, adding that the initiatives under the NUHM will seek to strengthen the public health trust in urban local bodies, besides providing for cost of health care for the urban poor.
It focus will clearly be on alleviating the distress and duress of the urban poor in seeking quality health service.
Further, maintaining that success of any programme hinges on the commitment by the programme officers, he expressed hope that the officials in the department as well as health workers will understand the urgency for successful implementation of the programme.
Delivering the keynote address, Director of National Health Mission Dr Neikietuo Chiesotsu said NUHM will be implemented in the cities and towns with a population of more than 50000 in all the district headquarters and state capitals, while the remaining town and rural areas will continue to be under NRHM.
He said NUHM aims to improve the health of the urban population, particularly the poor and other disadvantaged sections by facilitating equitable access to quality health care through a revamped primary health care system, target outreach and involvement of the urban community and the urban local bodies.
He also informed that an amount of Rs 1 crore has been earmarked for implementation of NUHM in Kohima, Dimapur and Mokokchung districts for the last three months of the year 2013-2014.
The launching programme was chaired by Secretary HFW Beiu Angami, wherein Principal Director HFW Dr Neiphi Kire delivered the welcome address and Additional Director & Nodal Officer NUHM Dr Sukhato A Sema tendered the vote of thanks.
