Nagaland Governor La Ganesan inaugurated the new Primary Health Centre (PHC) building along with Ayushman Bhavah Mela at Botsa on Friday. State chief minister Neiphiu Rio, Health & Family Welfare (H&FW) minister P Paiwang Konyak, hosts of ministers, advisers, senior government officials, village elders and the community of the area were present on the occasion.
In his address, the governor termed the inauguration of the new PHC building as a milestone in the state’s journey towards providing comprehensive healthcare to the people. He said healthcare was one of the most critical sectors for development.
“Quality healthcare forms the bedrock of any prosperous society and the starting point is a primary health centre we are inaugurating today,” he added.
He appreciated the health department for organising the Ayushman Bhavah Mela and the village authorities for their efforts in making the mela a reality.
He mentioned that the drive for quality healthcare was the cornerstone of Ayushman Bhavah initiative, whose name was inspired from an age-old Sanskrit phrase that meant “Long Live Life”.
Ganesan reminded everyone of the importance of collaboration between the healthcare providers and the public to make the dream of “health for all” a reality.
Commenting on the participation of healthcare professionals, volunteers and village authorities, he hoped that their knowledge, skills, passion and their willingness to serve their fellowmen would make the Ayushman Bhavah campaign a success.
He claimed that the goal of the mela was not only to cure diseases, but to promote overall wellness, stressing that the mela’s endeavour should be providing preventive and curative health solutions efficiently.
Maintaining that the guiding principle was simple “Prevention is better than cure”, he called for working together to promote a healthier lifestyle among the population, which was the true essence of the Ayushman Bhavah campaign.
Ganesan noted that a one-day health mela could do much to help the community, stressing that it should be the ongoing endeavour of the authorities to continue reforming health sector, train more doctors and healthcare professionals, and educate more people about their health and well-being.
In his speech, Rio claimed that the PHC was constructed in a record time, while lauding the contractors and everyone involved in the construction. He said the PHC would provide better healthcare and urged the public to take advantage of the facilities. He also lauded the state’s medical fraternity for receiving four awards during the Arogya Manthan 2023.
While urging the people to make use of the facility, Rio also encouraged people to go for regular check-ups and stressed early treatment and diagnostics to save more lives. He also mentioned that as cleanliness was related to health, he called upon the people to maintain cleanliness and personal hygiene and also a balance diet for overall wellbeing.
Rio also lauded the Health department for winning the awards for Full Utilization of Allocated Fund; Prompt Anti-Fraud Actions, Ayushman Utkrishtata Award 2023 for Best Claim Settlement Performance and for Highest Ayushman Card Generation among Small States.
Referring to the Chief Minister’s Health Insurance Scheme (CMHIS), Rio appealed everyone to avail the scheme. He also requested the people of Botsa to take ownership of the new PHC building and cooperate with the doctors and nurses.
He urged the healthcare professionals to rededicate themselves in the service of the people to make Nagaland a progressive and a brighten society. Also speaking on the occasion, Health minister Paiwang Konyak disclosed that the Ayushman Bhavah campaign that was launched virtually by President Draupadi Murmu on September 13 was being implemented across the country in mission mode from September 17 and Seva Pakhwada fortnight activities would end on October 2, but other activities would continue till December 1.
He expressed his gratitude to all healthcare personnel for executing the campaign flawlessly and also the people for availing various health services. He shared that Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PMJAY) Nagaland had won four national awards in the recently-held Arogya Manthan 2023 in the following categories – Full Utilization of Allocated Fund, Prompt Anti-Fraud Actions, Ayushman Utkrishtata Award 2023 for Best Claim Settlement Performance and for Highest Ayushman Card Generation among Small States.
The minister also informed the gathering that, besides health-checkups, the mela at PHC Botsa was providing mother and child healthcare, nutrition support to pregnant women, nursing mothers and children as a convergence activity under the ongoing Poshan Maah by the Social Welfare Department, multipronged services of tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, food safety demonstration, etc.
He mentioned that yoga sessions were also being conducted along with generation ABHA and Ayushman cards. He urged every citizen of the state to continue availing the services in the coming days to ensure a healthy Nagaland.
Referring to the new PHC building, he disclosed that the project was sanctioned under North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS) in 2021 with a total project cost of Rs 152.30 lakh.
He said the total plinth area of the building was about 7200 square feet and comprised 16 rooms and seven toilets.
As the project was completed in a record time and without making any advance payment to the contractor, he thanked contractor M/s Keduo Zumu for setting an example to the people of Nagaland worth emulating, as doing business was not only for making profit but also for the development and progress of the society.
Revealing that the Doctors For You with support from Boeing India had provided critical equipment, including one ambulance, to the PHC, Konyak hoped that the centre would not only cater to the needs of the people of the area, but also play a crucial rule in delivery of emergency services.
JAS chairman/HCMC Kechangulie Kense in his short speech mentioned that they were catering to about 19 neighbouring villages with around 500-600 OPD patients in a month. He informed that they get about 100-150 indoor patients and 50-60 emergency cases in a month.
The programme was chaired by H&FW principal director Dr Ritu Thurr, the event was also attended by village council chairmen from 12 villages, senior citizens and students of Botsa and nearby areas.
Invocation was offered by Botsa Baptist Church senior pastor Rev Riidilhou Rio, while the welcome address was delivered by Kechangulie Kense and vote of thanks by Botsa Council chairman Kehouzelie.