Srinagar: Mission Director, National Health Mission (NHM) Jammu and Kashmir, Athar Aamir Shafi-ul-Khan on Thursday reviewed winter preparedness across healthcare institutions, directing officials to ensure uninterrupted medical services and strengthen emergency response in remote and snowbound areas.
Chairing a meeting at the State Health Society office in Srinagar, he assessed the availability of essential medicines, heating arrangements, power backup systems and medical personnel across health facilities.
The meeting, attended by Directors of Health Services Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Medical Officers, NHM programme managers and other senior officials, also reviewed preparations for managing seasonal respiratory illnesses and ensuring adequate deployment of frontline workers, including Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) and Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs).
A key focus was maternal and child healthcare in remote areas, particularly locations likely to be cut off by snowfall. Khan directed officials to maintain updated lists of pregnant women, identify high-risk pregnancies and ensure timely referrals and access to institutional deliveries.
He stressed the need to prevent avoidable maternal and infant deaths and eliminate home deliveries through effective monitoring, outreach and coordination among healthcare workers.
To address emergency transportation challenges during heavy snowfall, the meeting finalised a deployment plan for 108 ambulance services, with priority given to positioning four-wheel-drive ambulances in difficult and snowbound areas.
Officials were also directed to coordinate with the Mechanical Engineering Department, police and other agencies to ensure timely snow clearance and maintain access to emergency medical services.
Khan asked all Chief Medical Officers to conduct regular field visits to identify and address operational gaps before the peak winter season.