Dr Ritu Thurr, Mission Director, NHM Nagaland addressing the state level review meeting of the National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) on May 19 at Hotel Cedar, Dimapur.
DIMAPUR, MAY 19 (MExN): A state review meeting of the National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) was held on May 19 at Hotel Cedar, Dimapur.
During the inaugural programme, Dr Ritu Thurr, Mission Director, National Health Mission (NHM) Nagaland while exhorting the delegates stated that the main goal of NHM and NUHM is the same, which is to provide comprehensive primary health care system accessible to the public, especially the vulnerable section of the society.
He further stated that NUHM’s main challenges and focus areas include the urban population which comprises of vulnerable (migratory and floating) population, poor sanitation, prone to vector borne diseases, poor housing system, over congested health units, to name few challenges.
Besides, this vulnerable section of the population is also unaware of referral services or where to seek help. Thus, Urban Primary Health Centers (UPHCs), in order to provide quality health service delivery, must know their jurisdictions and actual population coverage well.
Urging the delegates to not only focus on their targets but rather on quality service delivery, he stated that such review meeting provides the department the platform to present not only their annual performances but also to share their good practices, challenges and gaps which will help in better planning and policy making in the future.
Dr Limatula Aier, Chief Medical Officer, Dimapur lauded the district NUHM team for achieving National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) certification in both the UPHC Duncan and UPHC Burma Camp.
She also stressed on the importance of knowing our beneficiaries well as per our respective health unit coverage so as to generate better action plan and provide quality health service delivery.
In regards to Urban ASHAs, she stated that with the recruitment of Urban ASHAs, health care delivery has become efficient in the urban areas. However, as ASHAs are utilized for many other activities besides health activities, other allied department must also be sensitized that they are voluntary workers and should be incentivized appropriately for their performances.
She further stressed on quality data from all health units. Data collected must be verified to ensure that quality data is provided and recorded for future course of action.
Dr Nyanthung Kikon, Nodal Officer, NUHM Nagaland in his welcome address also stated that review meeting was an essential part in understanding the process of the health care delivery system through presentation of our various health activities performances and sharing the growth of our health units.
The programme was chaired by Aotemsu Ozukum, State Consultant, NUHM and the vote of thanks was delivered by Toshinaro, Consultant NUHM, Dimapur. During the review meeting, Dr Y Rebecca Sema, District Programme Officer Dimapur gave a presentation on Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) while district delegates from Mokokchung, Tuensang, Wokha, Kohima, and Dimapur also presented their respective District’s NUHM performances.
Prior to the review meeting, the NUHM team of Kohima, Dimapur, Wokha, Mokokchung and Tuensang also visited UPHC Burma Camp and UPHC Duncan for cross learning and experience sharing on May 18.
