305 health centres to be upgraded to HWCs
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 13 2020: Altogether 220 Primary Health Sub-Centres (PHSCs) and 85 PHCs or Urban PHCs would be upgraded to Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) within the current financial year.

This was announced by Health and Family Welfare Minister L Jayantakumar while speaking as chief guest at an achievement and awards distribution ceremony of Manipur Health Sector held today at the JNIMS auditorium.

The ceremony was organised by the State Health Society under the aegis of the National Health Mission, Manipur.

Jayantakumar said that the idea of HWC was conceptualised within Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Ayushman Bharat scheme.

HWCs would now have additional facilities for detection of cervical and breast cancers, he said.

Talking about Kayakalp Award, he said that the award is a branch of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan which was launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 2015 .

In the introductory year itself, Manipur participated in several competitions and the State had many achievements.

Only 100 healthcare centres participated in the competitions in 2018-19 but the number of healthcare centres grew to 179 in 2019-2020 .

These competitions have been spreading messages on hygiene and sanitation not only among doctors, nurses, paramedics and ASHA workers but also among the public, he said.

Jayantakumar said that the State has been facing acute shortage of doctors and nurses.

The situation is such that at least 650 Medical Officers and a large number of nurses must be recruited urgently.

To make up this shortage, the State Government has sent a project proposal to the Ministry of Health and Family to set up three more medical colleges in the State.

The State, Government has been planning to set up medical colleges at Churachandpur District Hospital, Chandel District Hospital and Thoubal District Hospital, he said.

Meanwhile, a GNM school has been already opened at Churachandpur.

Likewise, construction of building for opening another GNM school at Thoubal has been completed.

But recruitment of necessary manpower is yet to be done.

Jayantakumar said.

For the first time in the entire North East region, an Integrated Health Information Platform has been launched in the State, he continued.

Three high-end machines have been already installed at the State Food Safety Lab located at Lamphelpat.

A zonal food safety laboratory would be opened at Moreh and the necessary machines would arrive soon, he said.

Certain area has been allotted at Konthoujam for opening a National Council of Diseases Control for the first time in the North East.

The State Health and Family Welfare Training Centre has already started functioning at the R&D Wing, Lamphelpat, said the Health and Family Welfare Minister.

Regarding JNIMS, Jayantakumar reminded that Chief Minister N Biren had laid foundation stone for construction of Infectious Diseases Ward.

Birth and death registration system has been modernised, An amount of Rs 12 crore sanctioned by the Ministry of DoNER has been earmarked for construction of private wards at JNIMS.

Moreover, paramedical and allied institutions have been established, he claimed.

As a part of the function, Jayantakumar opened five Dialysis Units and seven Hepatitis Treatrhent Centres cum Labs.

The five Dialysis units (Bishnupur, Chandel, Churachandpur, Thoubal and Senapati) were opened under the Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme.

The seven Hepatitis Treatment Centres cum Labs (Bishnupur, Chandel, Churachandpur, Senapati, Thoubal, Tamenglong and Ukhrul) were opened under the National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme.

The Health and Family Welfare Minister also distributed Kayakalp Awards.

Earlier, Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), Government of India, Deputy Secretary Ajit Kumar Shah presented a Good Governance Index Citation to Jayantakumar.

The Good Government Index Citation was presented to Jayantakumar as Manipur topped the North Eastern States and some other States in health sector.

This year's Kayakalp Award was presented to Thoubal District Hospital.

The award carries a cash prize of Rs 50 lakh and a citation.

CHC Wangoi was adjudged the best CHC and it was rewarded a cash prize of Rs 15 lakh and a citation.

Best PHC awards were received by Leimapokpam (Bishnupur), Sivapurikhal (Pherzawl), Bashikhong (Imphal East), Mekola (Imphal West), Paomata (Senapati), Saikul (Kangpokpi), Khoupum (Noney), Wangjing (Thoubal), Hiyanglam (Kakching), Komlathabi (Chandel), Chingai (Ukhrul) and Moreh (Tengnoupal) .

The award has cash component of Rs two lakh and a citation each.

Best HWC awards were conferred to Phubala (Bishnupur), Pearsonmun (Churachandpur), Irilbung (Imphal East), Awang Wabagai (Imphal West) and Wangkhem (Thoubal) .

MLA Dr Yumnam Radheshyam, Health and Family Welfare Principal Secretary V Vumlunmang, Health and Family Welfare Director Dr K Rajo, JNIMS Director Dr Th Bhimo and Fairfax India Charitable Foundation CEO Abraham Alapatl and DARPG Amit Kumar Shah were seated on the dais as presidium members.

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