H&FW minister assures to activate blood storage facilities

Admitting that blood storage facilities in 13 districts of the State were non-functional, Health and Family Welfare (H&FW) minister P Paiwang Konyak has assured that all these would be activated as soon as possible to ensure that no mother died of excessive bleeding or for want of blood during delivery.
Speaking at the launch of the “First 1000 Days, foundation for a brighter future” here at de Oriental Grand Hotel on Thursday, he stressed that the blood banks at Kohima, Dimapur and Mokokchung must have blood available at all times.
Towards this end, he said an intensive blood donation awareness campaign would be taken up and urged the citizens to come forward and donate blood to save lives.
He explained that the first 1,000 days referred to a child’s life from the moment he or she was conceived until reaching two years of age. Noting that this was a period of opportunity for a child’s physical, mental and intellectual development, he emphasised that a proper intervention during these 1,000 days starting from pregnancy would have a major impact on overall survival and quality of a child’s life.
Paiwang mentioned that it was the responsibility of every individual to ensure that critical health services reached all children and mothers of Nagaland to survive and thrive by laying a strong foundation for them.
He claimed that critical intervention or services like antenatal care, hospital delivery, timely vaccination, etc, were available at State government health centres and also during the village health and nutrition days. He said parents must avail the services of the facilities for the healthy growth of their children.
He urged health service providers to ensure that children received their services for their overall growth and development. He remarked that this could be achieved with the active support of civil society organisations, churches, student bodies, partner NGOs and the media. He encouraged all district health offices led by chief medical officers (CMOs) to remain committed to this noble cause by ensuring that all services reached the remote villages of the State.
Further, the minister disclosed that Nagaland’s immunisation percentage was 58%, though it ought to be 75%, due to hilly terrain.
He appreciated accredited health service activists (ASHAs) for reaching every nook and corner of the State despite various challenges, including no road connectivity. He appealed to all stakeholders to assist the ASHAs by ensuring that the targeted beneficiaries were reached on time.
Birth Waiting Home: He divulged that H&FW department was implementing a pilot project “Birth Waiting Home” in Mon and Kiphire districts that aimed to encourage institutional delivery under the care of skilled health providers for the safety of mother and child, thereby reducing morbidity and mortality.
He thanked funding partner UNICEF for the continued support and encouragement towards mother and child and hoped that the funding would continue in the future too.
Paiwang encouraged the gathering to make an honest commitment to ensure that children got all possible support, especially in the first 1,000 days for their brighter future and assured to remain committed to the health of all children in Nagaland.
In his address, H&FW commissioner and secretary Kikheto Sema disclosed that Nagaland had the lowest coverage of Antenatal Care (ANC), institutional delivery in the country and emphasised creating a massive awareness on ANC and the importance of the first 1,000 Days.
He called for discouraging traditional system of home delivery as it often led to many complications for the mother and child, even causing death.
He appealed to the churches to spread the awareness that the church was the best platform for reaching out to the people.
He also cautioned against any misuse of funds meant for mother and child and asserted that this would not be tolerated.
NHM State mission director Dr Ritu Thurr delivered the welcome address, while Dr Longri Kichu from UNICEF spoke on the first 1,000 Days.
Messages on importance of ANC and institutional delivery was shared by gynaecologist District Hospital, Mokokchung Dr Supongmeren; official from department of Social Welfare spoke on Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana and nutritional support during the first 1,000 days; Breastfeeding: the complete nutrition and early childhood development by consultant Paediatrician NHAK Dr. Ruutuo-u Sorhie; importance of vaccination by Dr. Sheila Longkumer; SBCC through SHG institution by NSRLM-RD and Village Health sanitation and Nutrition day by Dr. Khelito Zhimomi state programme officer ECH.
Health department principal director Dr Vibeituonuo M Sachü proposed the vote of thanks.
Earlier, the minister also released a book on the journey of the first 1,000 days “SUMAN– Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan” standard operational guidelines.
Officials from H&FW directorate, UNICEF, Social Welfare department, NSRLM-RD and district level officers, faith-based organisations, civil and student organisations and others attended the programme.