New Delhi, September 07, 2009: Convocation for the Red Shield Health Angels was held in a glittering ceremony at the Red Shield Auditorium at Leimakhong with Health and Family Welfare Minister Pheiroijam Parijat Singh as chief guest today.

The day marked the culmination of 15 weeks of training for the maiden batch of Health Angels who have been primed into the noble profession of health care.

Health Angels are 15 educated female health volunteers selected from the remote villages around Leimakhong, and who have been imparted 15 weeks intensive training in first aid and basic maternity and child health under Health Angels Initiative of 57 Mountain Division to enable the expertise acquired by the trainees to percolate down to the society to which they belong.

Health Angels Initiative, a brainchild of Convener of Red Shield AWWA, Madhu Gurung, was inaugurated by her on May 25 last.

The Health Angels received their theoretical training at 357 Field Hospital and 'on the job' practical training at 183 Military Hospital.

Trained Birth Attendant training was imparted to them at RIMS, Imphal.

Madhu Gurung, who has been closely associated with the Heath Angels right from its inception, while speaking in the function said that the Health Angels are the part of community solutions, where the girls have been trained with first aid, basic maternity health care and preventive care.

Ph Parijat Singh while lauding the initiative of the Army assured that the Health Angels would be absorbed as ASHAs under National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) if they are found fit for the job.

The Minister appreciated and acknowledged the endeavour undertaken by the Army in providing the requisite health training to the village youths thereby making basic health care and advice within reach of the population in the remotest villages at odd hours.

The Minister gave away certificates and medical kits to the girls who have successfully completed the training.

The cost of each of these kit is over Rs 20,000.The convocation was also attended by other senior officials of the State Health Department, eminent civilian doctors, village chiefs, pastors, parents of the trainees and prominent persons from the villages adjoining Leimakhong.

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