Health talk raises awareness on healthcare facilities
Source: The Sangai Express

Bishnupur, November 04 2023: A health talk cum awareness programme was held today at Ibudhou Khuman Pokpa and Ibendhou Khuman Pokpi Haraoba Shanglen at Karang Ching under Thanga Assembly Constituency.

The health talk cum awareness programme was jointly organised by the Community Medicine Department, RIMS; Department of Social Welfare, Manipur; Relief Centre for the Welfare of Differently Abled Persons, Manipur and Karang Island Development Organization.

The health talk cum awareness programme as a part of the Department's ongoing health programme to raise awareness among the masses about healthcare facilities especially to the elderly persons and those residing in areas who are deprived of adequate healthcare facilities, said a statement by the Relief Centre for the Welfare of Differently Abled Persons.

Health talk raises awareness on healthcare facilities

The awareness programme was conducted by the doctors and medical interns of the Department led by health educator M Meghachandra Meitei under the aegis of Dr H Sanayaima Devi, Head of the Community Medicine Department RIMS.

During the programme, the doctors and medical interns spoke in length on the topic Dengue fever and Malaria, Osteoporosis and Breast Cancer.

Free medical tests including urine test, sugar test, blood group etc.

were done and free medicines were distributed as well.

During the awareness programme, L Bobo Singh, Extension Officer, Social Welfare Department informed that the different nature of ability to classify a person of being disabled has been increased from 7 to 21 conditions through an amendment by the Parliament recently which include Autism.

Those who want to get the benefits of differently abled schemes of the Government need to get the disability certificates from the authorities concerned, he said.

He further stated that the Department is implementing various social security schemes under State Plan including scholarship for the students with disabilities, unemployment allowance to the educated unemployed persons with disabilities, financial assistance to the PWDs, marriage incentive award, grant-in-aid to the organizations formed by the persons with disabilities or parents of severe disabilities.

He also said that the new Government's initiative of "CM gi Sotharabasingi Tengbang" aimed to ensure the quality of life to persons with disabilities has largely helped in identification of disabilities.

He further appealed to the Government to take up such welfare measures in the future too.

Speaking at the occasion, Media Advisor, Nimol Ningombam said that victims of acid attack are now considered as among the persons with disabilities same as the persons born with physical defects adding that Government has recognized 21 different types of disabilities to formulate the schemes for their support.

He continued that 'The State had failed to frame the policy under 'The Persons With Disability Act, 1995 which was popularly known as Equal Opportunity, Protection of Rights and Full Participation Act, 1995 before it was replaced by 'The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016' and the new Act was approved by the President of India on December 27 of 2016' .

As such, it is of no use to hide such cases, he added and urged the public to use the 4 percent quota reserved for persons with disability in Government jobs.