A baseline survey carried out by Nagaland Health Project (NHP) has detected several anomalies in the district hospitals and selected health facilities including 23 sub-centres (SCs), 53 primary health centres (PHCs) and 21 community health centres (CHCs) across all districts.
It was presented at the “Validation and Dissemination of Baseline Survey Report”, a World Bank aided project under the directorate of health and family welfare (H&FW), at Capital Convention Centre, here on Tuesday.
Objective of the survey was to collect information from district hospitals and selected health facilities on availability of essential infrastructure, amenities equipment, drugs, manpower; service provision and utilization and perception of health providers on posting, transfers, job satisfaction.
The data collection, carried out between April-May 2015 by seven teams of four members each, was led by department H&FW and technical support from Public Health Foundation of India, John Hopkins School of Public Health and the World Bank.
In the district health survey, it was found out that none of the medical superintendents had received any additional training on hospital management. It also detected that only three DHs (Kohima, Mon and Tuensang) had piped water connections while the rest mostly had a borehole. District hospital Tuensang and Wokha did not have a separate newborn nursery within the maternity ward. Kiphire, Longleng and Peren district hospitals did not have a separate surgical ward and only NHAK was found to have a functional Intensive Care Unit.
District hospitals in Longleng and Peren despite having an OT have not conducted a single major surgery/C- section in the month prior to the survey attributed to lack of a General Surgeon and Obstetrician currently working at the hospitals.
Health facility and provider survey conducted on selected health facilities found that 85% SCs, 67% PHCs and 76% CHCs did not have continuous electricity, about half of the health facilities reported to have piped water. During the survey, it was observed that only 39% SCs, 59% PHCs and 62% CHCs had water available at the time. Meanwhile, as per the findings, NHP has submitted recommendations.
Giving an overview of the NHP, project director Dr. Vizolie Suokhrie informed that NHP was first conceived in 2012 and approved by the Centre after multiple meetings/screening committee by department of economic affairs (DEA) on 24 January 2014.
However, he said final negotiation with government of India (DEA) was yet to be completed. Dr. Vizolie expressed hope that it would be completed by the month of April 2016.
He informed that the project duration was for 5-7 years and total financial outlay was Rs. 324 crore, total external assistance of Rs. 259 crore and state government share Rs. 65 crore.
As per the project preparatory advance agreement, Dr. Suokhrie said an advance of USD 1 million has been sanctioned for the preparation of the NHP, which was to be utilized by June 30, 2016.
State chief secretary and chairman project steering committee NHP, Pankaj Kumar, said that to make a perfect hospital was a complex task. However, he said that with the help of baselines survey, gaps and deficiencies could be addressed.
He assured that government would look into women’s participation as co-chairman in VHCs.
Pankaj urged the gathering to maintain strong community partnership and to learn the full responsibility of VHC. The chief secretary also signed the baseline survey report.
The panellist for discussion included former chief secretary of state Banuo. Z. Jamir, former principal director of H&FW Nandira Changkija, project director NHM Dr. Sukhato Sema, Dr. Aarushi and Dr. Thomas.
Representatives of various village health committees from all districts and doctors participated in the discussion.
Earlier, welcome address was delivered by secretary H&FW and chairman project executive committee NHP, M. Patton. Vote of thanks was proposed by consultant public health NHP, Dr. R Rose Chakesang. The programme was chaired by NHP additional project director Dr. Atoshe Sema.