Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday laid the foundation stones of various health infrastructure projects here and said the new facilities across the union territory will promote social equality.
The foundation stone laying ceremony for the projects, including two paediatric centres of excellence, 28 maternal ICUs (with 10-20 beds), 20 paediatric hybrid ICUs (with 12 beds) and 15 paediatric wards (with 20-30 beds) in seven government medical colleges across all 20 districts of Jammu and Kashmir was held at the SMGS Hospital here, officials said.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai and Government Medical College (GMC), Jammu was also signed on the occasion, they said.
“Laid foundation stone for various state-of-the-art health infrastructure projects at GMCs, DHs (district hospitals), CHCs (Community Health Centres) & PHCs (Public Health Centres) across the UT. The augmented facilities will contribute towards the further strengthening of the healthcare system,” Sinha said in a tweet.
On the signing of the agreement between Tata Memorial Hospital and GMC, Jammu, he said, “MoU with Tata Memorial Hospital for academic and technical collaboration would help in developing ultra-modern tertiary cancer care facilities and (providing) technical expertise to faculty, paramedical staff and integration of state cancer institute into national cancer grid, Tata Memorial Centre.”
Sinha said his administration is committed to the goal of health for all and determined to ensure that the “new health facilities in various districts promote social equality and its benefits reach our brothers and sisters living in far-flung areas.”
Meanwhile, an official spokesman said that the Lt Governor also launched a social security scheme for employees under the National Health Mission and handed over ex-gratia cheques of Rs 10 lakhs each to the NoKs of the deceased employees of NHM.
The spokesman, while quoting the LG said that the healthcare infrastructure has changed dramatically since 2014.
“Earlier, a privileged few were enjoying medical care facilities in big cities and abroad while the majority of the population did not have access even to ordinary health care facilities. With the commitment to public health, we ensured high-quality healthcare for all,” the spokesman quoted LG as saying.
As per the spokesman, expressing his gratitude towards Prime Minister for transforming the health sector of Jammu and Kashmir, the Lt Governor said that the PM gave seven new medical colleges, two AIIMS, 10 Nursing Colleges and Rs.7,700 Crore worth projects to create best medical institutions in the UT. Earlier, there was no health insurance scheme in the UT and with SEHAT scheme every citizen has been brought under the health care safety net.
LG, as per the spokesman, further said that before 2019, there were only 129 health and wellness centers across Jammu and Kashmir. 1275 new health and wellness centers have been set up in two years and in the backdrop of global pandemic, research, human knowledge and technical intervention in healthcare is increasing at an explosive pace that was unthinkable even a decade ago.
“We are devoting greater attention to medical education and 1897 medical education seats have been increased in the last two years,” the spokesman quoted LG as saying.
The LG also announced setting up 10 new nursing colleges.
The Lt Governor said that the new health infrastructure at CHCs and PHCs will strengthen rural public health infrastructure, creation of human resources in the UT, and help the health department to provide quality health care to the doorsteps of common people.
“Today, J&K is one of the best performing regions in the country in terms of health facilities. This itself shows the commitment of the administration towards strengthening the healthcare sector in J&K,” the spokesman quoted LG as saying.
On the occasion, the Lt Governor announced NHM Employees Welfare Fund and also launched S.H.I.F.A (Stimulated Health Information Facilitation Assistant), a whatsapp based integrated technology extension to 104 centralized health helpline, and Asha Gullak App for tracking and monitoring of ASHA payments and performances.
BEMMP Guidelines Booklet and UNICEF DGA (District Gap Analysis) were also released by the Lt Governor, the spokesman said.
