GANDERBAL: The Additional District Development Commissioner (ADDC) Ganderbal, Khurshid Ahmed Shah today chaired a meeting to discuss the action plan with regard to ‘Improving the healthcare access and quality’ in context of achieving universal healthcare coverage (UHC) among scheduled tribes in the district.
The agenda of the meeting was formulation of “Core Committee” that will actively participate and evolve modalities of execution of Universal Healthcare Coverage (UHC) program in Ganderbal district and distribution of various assignments and collaboration with line departments for the execution and smooth functioning of all the activities under UHC program.
During the course of the meeting, various issues related to the NCD Screening, Health Awareness, Training and orientation programmes to general population and health workers were discussed.
Dr. Mohd Ashraf Ganie Sub-Dean Research and Head, Clinical Research, SKIMS; Dr. Afroza Shah, Chief Medical Officer, Ganderbal, District Panchayat Officer, District Programme Officer, ICDS, District Social Welfare Officer, Ganderbal, District Youth Service and Sports Officer, Dy CEO and other concerned attended the meeting.
At the outset, Prof. Mohd Ashraf Ganie presented the overall scenario about the goal of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), Non-communicable diseases like Diabetes, Hypertension, and Vitamin D deficiency. He further conveyed the increase in prevalence of Diabetes, hypertension and other non-communicable diseases among the general population of Kashmir valley.
He said that as per the screening of Gujjar and Bakarwals (tribal) community, Increasing trend of various non-communicable diseases are observed in this set of population. Dr. Ganie discussed that there might be alarming situations regarding the burden of these diseases if proper screening is not done at various health sectors.
After a brief deliberation, ADDC Ganderbal directed for formulation of a Core Committee to evolve modalities of execution of this program in district Ganderbal. He also stressed that activities calendar should be made on priority for future programs and the same should be communicated to his office.
Dr. Ganie sought collaboration and support from all the line departments so that mass screening, awareness, training and community orientation programmes will be given to the general population including the tribal population of the district.
ASHAs, ANMs and Anganwadi workers will be fully trained regarding their ground level health related activities. He assured full support from SKIMS and team to the health department Ganderbal regarding this initiative.
Chief medical Officer Ganderbal assured full support and cooperation to Mohd Ashraf Ganie and team and discussed the Universal Health Coverage and NCD screening at various health centres of the district. She further conveyed that they will keep staff updated and improve clinical services in the district.
The ADDC focused on the need of public awareness and workshops to be conducted in various schools, colleges, hospitals, private institutions so that maximum population shall be benefitted from this initiative to curb the burden of non-communicable diseases in the district especially in cut-off tribal villages of district Ganderbal. He also assured full support from the district administration to run the community outreach program smoothly for the welfare of the society.
He exhorted upon all line departments to ensure full support and collaboration regarding the already mentioned programme.