DC Zunheboto Rahul Mali Bhanudas, IAS, with others during the culmination of Ayushman Pakhwada celebrations at the District Hospital conference hall.
Zunheboto, September 30 (MExN): The Office of the Chief Medical Officer, Zunheboto in collaboration with the District Implementation Unit (DIU) AB-PMJAY, concluded the Ayushman Pakhwada celebrations at the District Hospital conference hall on September 30. The event was graced by Rahul Mali Bhanudas, IAS, Deputy Commissioner of Zunheboto and Chairman of DIU AB-PMJAY/CMHIS as the special guest.
Ayushman Pakhwada is being observed from September 20 to 30 to commemorate the 6th anniversary of the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) and the 3rd anniversary of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM).
The DC Zunheboto, Rahul Mali Bhanudas highlighted the importance of the scheme, which benefits over 12 crore poor and vulnerable families, accounting for approximately 55 crore beneficiaries.
He stated that healthcare can be costly, and therefore, it is crucial for the public to utilize the benefits of the scheme. He urged the health department to provide clear and comprehensive information to the public regarding the procedures and benefits of the scheme, as many beneficiaries encounter difficulties in accessing services at different hospitals.
The DC congratulated the winners of the essay competition and acknowledged the District Hospital Zunheboto for being recognised as the “best-performing hospital in the district,” an update from the CMO office Zunheboto stated. Bhanudas encouraged the health department to continue delivering essential services to the public and to work toward further strengthening healthcare facilities in the region.
The event was chaired by Dr Antoly Suu, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Zunheboto, who highlighted the significance of this milestone. In her address, Dr Suu encouraged all eligible beneficiaries to take full advantage of the healthcare services provided under the AB-PMJAY scheme, which ensures cashless access to healthcare services at empanelled hospitals across the country.
She also called upon community leaders to actively promote awareness of the scheme and to ensure their own registration, encouraging broader participation and access to the scheme benefits.
The keynote address was delivered by Dr Shikato, District Nodal Officer for AB-PMJAY, who emphasised that PM-JAY is the world’s largest government-financed health insurance scheme, offering Rs 5 lakh coverage per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization in both public and private hospitals nationwide.
Several beneficiaries shared their personal experiences of availing the benefits of AB-PMJAY and the Chief Minister’s Health Insurance Scheme (CMHIS), expressing how these schemes had significantly eased the financial burden during their medical treatment.
As part of the fortnight-long celebration of Ayushman Pakhwada, various activities, including essay competitions, the Ayushman Bharat Bike Yatra, the Run for Health, free health check-ups, and awareness programs about the benefits of Ayushman Bharat Yojana were organised. Additionally, Ayushman cards were issued to eligible beneficiaries across the district.
The programme was attended by representatives from civil society organizations, the President and members of the Sumi Hoho, the Sumi Totimi Hoho, Town GBs, Zunheboto Town Councillors, students from government schools, as well as staff from the Chief Medical Officer’s office and District Hospital.
