National Health Mission (NHM) Nagaland mission director, Dr. Akuo Sorhie, said the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) envisages bringing a comprehensive set of services near to the doorsteps of the people by reaching to the unreached, and to address the healthcare needs of the people in long-term basis.
A press release by NHM Nagaland stated that the mission director was speaking at the inaugural programme of a three-day Training of Trainers (ToTs) of District Community Mobilisers (DCMs) and Block ASHA Coordinators (BACs) on Expanded Packages of Services (EPS) under Comprehensive Primary Health Care (CPHC) at Ayushman Bharat-Health & Wellness Centre (AB-HWC) Tuesday at Conference Hall, DUDA Guest House, Kohima.
Describing DCMs, BACs and Accredited Social Health Activities (ASHAs)as the forerunners of the program, she said they play a vital role between the community and health care. With the paradigm shift which envisages the UHC bringing health care to all by reaching out to the unreached population bringing a complete health package, Dr. Akuo said ASHAs, a key member of the primary health team in the Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs), has much wider assignments under CPHC objectives.
From a link worker or social mobilisers, she said ASHAs’ roles and responsibilities, over the years, have increased many folds, likewise of DCMs and BACs as they are the coordinators of ASHAs.
Dr. Akuo expressed hope that the training would further strengthen their knowledge in tackling the added assignment so they could provide quality health care services by addressing primary health care for all at their level. She appealed to them to recommit to giving the highest priority to the flagship program and transforming the public health care delivery system in Nagaland.
In an overview of the extended health packages under CPHC, NHM state program officer, Dr. Mereninla Senlem, also asserted that ASHAs play an important role in implementing the concept of National Health Policy of UHC delivering health care services at the doorstep of the people. She said DCMs and BACs’ responsibility was to motivate and facilitate ASHAs.
Witnessing the shift in the disease trend from communicable to non-communicable and looking at the disease burden statistics, Dr. Mereninla said 80% of the deaths and disease burden are now due to non-communicable diseases. She then urged all to make the most of the three-day program in learning and clearing doubts.
Chairperson of the programme, NHM Nagaland deputy director, Dr. Manyau Phom, reminded ToTs that they have a responsibility of further training more than 2000 ASHAs in the state, adding that unless they are trained properly, they would not be able to fulfil the state’s target. He then asserted the need for comprehensive training of the DCMs and BACs.
During the three days, the participants will be trained on the additional extended packages of non-communicable diseases, oral health, ENT, eye, elderly care, palliatives care, mental health, emergency care (burns, trauma and accident).