Nagaland Health Project, Malaria Elimination, RSBY and Jan Aushadhi launched in Nagaland
Our Correspondent
Kohima | June 1
In a significant development for the health care delivery system in Nagaland, the state’s Department of Health & Family Welfare today launched the Nagaland Health Project (a World Bank aided project), Malaria Elimination initiative (NVBDCP), Rashtriya Swashya Bima Yojana (RSBY) and Jan Aushadhi (Generic Drugs) for all 11 district hospitals.
It was formally launched by Minister for Health & Family Welfare, P Longon in the presence of a World Bank team and several other dignitaries.
The Minister was optimistic that with the launching of the four programmes, Nagaland will be able to improve the delivery of health services and also undertake activities that can contribute to the improvement of health services to all sections of people in the state.
World Bank Operations Officer, Amith Nagaraj Bhatulla said that the community is at the forefront of the Nagaland Health Project (NHP). He called on the department to harness the highest level of participation from other departments for success of the project.
World Bank Nutrition Specialist, Mohini Kak said the NHP has a great potential, pointing to additional funds of 48 million dollars including 12 million dollars, which will be an addition to the current amount the government is investing in the health sector.
Nagaland Health Project
The Minister said that the NHP will improve health services and increase their utilization by the communities in targeted locations of the state. Longon said that there has been a significant improvement visible at the NHP implementation sites in Noklak areas, both at the health centres and village sites.
“In the absence of a strong private sector for health care delivery in rural areas in Nagaland, strengthening the government health services as well as the communities for management and accountability is of paramount importance,” he said.
NHP Project Director, Dr. Vizolie Suokhrie said this project implemented by the state’s department is the first state level project funded by the World Bank. This project is for 5 to 7 years with an objective to improve health services and increase their utilization by communities in targeted locations in Nagaland.
The total financial outlay stands at US$ 60 million (INR 390.5 crore). Total external assistance is US$ 48 million (INR 312.5 crore) and state government funding is US$ 12 million (INR 78 crore).
Component 1 for community action for health & nutrition is to empower communities to oversee, manage and improve health & nutrition programmes and their utilization. Component 2 for health system development aims to support improvements in the management and delivery of health services.
Malaria Elimination
“Malaria remains a public health problem in India, and also in our state. Malaria contributes to economic burden, loss of working days, school absenteeism and impact quality of life,” the Nagaland Health Minister said.
Longon maintained that the National Framework for Malaria Elimination prepared by the Directorate of National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP), has an intermediate milestone to monitor the progress through this ambitions journey. Longon was optimistic that Malaria Elimination can be achieved in Nagaland through effective partnership with departments like agriculture, PHE, urban development, rural development, fishery, education, municipal corporations, media and also involvement of communities and interested stakeholders.
Dr. Kevichusa Medikhru, SPO, NVBDCP said the state is witnessing decreasing cases of Malaria year by year. Malaria cases in Nagaland in 2011 were 3363. It went down to 2891 in 2012, 2285 (2013), 1936 (2014), 1527 (2015) and 828 (2016). He also furnished detail of deaths due to malaria as 2011- 4, 2012- 1, 2013-2, 2014- 2, 2015- 3 and 2016-0. He maintained that malaria can be eradicated in the state by 2030 if concerted effort is rendered.
Jan Aushadhi
Logon further stated that health care without availability of basic drugs remains a challenge for the state, and emphasized that the launching of Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Jan Aushadhi Kendra today is a step forward. The initiative aims to install retail shops for all district hospitals. “I am hopeful that affordable essential drugs can be made available to all the citizens of the state through this programme,” Longon said.
Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana
The Minister also announced the implementation of the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana by the Health and Family Welfare Department. The programme was earlier implemented by the Labour Department in all the district hospitals, including seven private hospitals.
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