Staff reporter
DIPHU, Sep 16: Under the directives of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India, the Karbi Anglong District Administration is gearing up to conduct the ‘Ayushman Bhavah’ campaign in the district from September 17 to October 2. The campaign is an umbrella initiative for enhanced awareness about various healthcare schemes and to saturate critical healthcare services in rural and urban areas.
In this connection, a press conference was called today at the District Commissioner’s office in Diphu. It was attended by Karbi Anglong DC Madhumita Bhagawati, Joint Director Health & Family, Diphu Dr. Borsing Rongpi, and several staff of the medical department.
“The achievement of Sustainable Development Goals 2030 requires village-level action, through the Localizing Sustainable Development Goal (LSDG) as a multi-ministerial initiative of the Government of India. The LSDG involves action along nine thematic areas, ‘Healthy Village’ being one of the initiatives and hence a core component of the Panchayat Development Index too. Moreover, the National Health Policy 2017’s goal of Universal Health Coverage may not be fulfilled without the achievement of the status of ‘Healthy Villages’. The saturation of all services in every village, including health initiatives, is at the core of ‘leave no one behind’ in line with the principle of “Antyodaya,” reaching out to all,” stated the DC in a press statement.
It was informed that the campaign will be conducted in three parts. The first will be “Ayushman Apke Dwar 3.0” with the aim of the distribution of Ayushman cards to all remaining eligible beneficiaries under PM-JAY Scheme by front Line Workers, with saturation mode starting from 17th September 2023, to ensure no eligible beneficiary is left.
The second is “Ayushman Mela”. “Starting from 17th September 2023, weekly Health Melas to be held every Saturday at the level of AB-HWCs mainly to focus on optimizing utilization of health care services and awareness generation. Moreover, weekly Health Melas every Saturday at the level of CHCS, in rotation, are to be organized by Medical Colleges to ensure specialist services in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics, Surgery, ENT, Eye and Psychiatric etc.
According to the DC, Mela will be held in Bokajan CHC on 23rd September, at Howraghat CHC on 30th September, Dhentagaht CHC on 14th October.
The third is “Ayushman Sabha” in which a village-level Sabha (Gram Sabha) for rural areas and ward sabha for urban areas led by the Village Health, Sanitation and Nutrition Committee (VHSNC)/Urban local body will be held on 2nd October 2023 to enhance awareness about various health care schemes and services including Ayushman cards, ABHA IDs, Sickle Cell Disease, Immunization, TB patient identification etc.
“Ayushman Gram/Ward- Subsequently, the successful implementation of all the above initiatives under the campaign will eventually ensure Gram/ Nagar Panchayat to attain the status of ‘Ayushman Gram Panchayat or Ayushman Urban Ward’ with saturation of selected health indicators i.e. distribution of Ayushman Cards and creation of ABHA IDs, screening population for Hypertension & Diabetes, identification and treatment of TB patients and screening of Sickle cell disease and card distribution,” read the statement.
Further, it was informed that all the activities as part of the Ayushman Bhav campaign all public health care facilities in rural and urban areas i.c. SHC-HWC, PHC-HWC, CHC, DH & Medical Colleges will conduct awareness campaign on Swachhta Abhiyan, Organ Donation Pledge Drive, and Blood donation camp.
On 23rd September a blood donation camp will be held at Bokajan CHC, 30th September at Howragaht CHC, 7th October at Bakalia CHC, and 14th October at Dhentagaht CHC.