Srinagar- Jammu and Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Wednesday said post Coronavirus pandemic in the Union Territory; the mental ailment and drug addiction related cases have shown a spurt.
He, however, extended all-out support to the Health and Medical Education (H&ME) department and Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (IMHANS) for addressing both the issues effectively.
Addressing the Health Conclave at SKICC here on Wednesday, the LG said that in the past three to four years, health care has changed a lot right from primary to district level.
“Patient care has improved and massive health care related infrastructure has been set up across the UT,” he said. “New technological tools have been introduced that saves time and helps the doctors ensure best possible treatment to the patients.”
The LG said that as per the study done by the IMHANS Srinagar, post Covid-19 pandemic, mental ailments that include common mental disorders, severe mental disorders and drug addiction among youth has shown a surge.
“The UT administration extends its full support to the H&ME, IMHANS and doctors to pull out the youth from anxiety and the vicious cycle of drug abuse,” he said.
He urged the H&ME department to launch massive awareness campaigns at Pachayat levels about ways and means of preventing anxiety and fighting drug addiction.
Launches India’s First Tele-MANAS Chat-Bot
Later LG Sinha launched India’s first Tele-MANAS chat-bot in the Union Territory, which will ensure round the clock services of health counsellors, clinical psychologists and consultants, officials said.
The service was launched after Sinha inaugurated ‘J-K Health Conclave’ on mental health and non-communicable diseases at SKICC here, they said.
On the occasion, the J-K Health and Medical Education Department inked memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre and NIMHANS, the officials said.
The Centre had in Budget 2022 announced the National Tele Mental Health Programme of India, Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States (Tele-MANAS). Tele-MANAS is a two-tier system. Tier 1 comprises State Tele MANAS cells, which includes trained counsellors and mental health specialists. Tier 2 comprises specialists at District Mental Health Programme (DMHP)/Medical College resources for physical consultation and/or eSanjeevani for audio visual consultation, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare website.
In his address at the conclave, the Lt Governor commended the efforts of the health department to bring together medical experts on a common platform to deliberate on most challenging health issues and to generate awareness on mental health and life threatening non-communicable diseases.
“Our ultimate objective is patient-centred care and all the efforts are being made to ensure that primary health centres and district hospitals provide quality care focusing on the physical as well as emotional well-being of individual patients,” Sinha said.
He said the new landmark initiatives launched are testimony to the commitment of the J-K administration in providing quality, affordable and accessible healthcare services to all.
The MoU inked between the J-K Health and Medical Education Department and the Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre will provide significant technical support to improve cancer care services in the UT and help us to establish preventive oncology service, day care centres and palliative care service at district hospitals, the Lt Governor said.
Another important MoU signed with NIMHANS Bengaluru will improve mental health services, training and capacity building of medical officers and nursing staff, he added.
Sinha said per capita spending on the health sector in J-K is among the highest in the country.
On the occasion, the Lt Governor also inaugurated 44 healthcare facilities worth Rs 56.18 crore to strengthen the medical infrastructure in J-K.
He also rolled out and launched several new initiatives to strengthen health system resilience including T3 – Test, Treat and Talk, anemia camps, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease programme and scan and share service for OPD registration.
In order to improve community extension of health services, the National Health Mission, Jammu and Kashmir, is recruiting 380 additional ASHAs and 31 ASHA facilitators as approved by the central government, Sinha said. There are also 334 numbers of tribal ASHAs sanctioned for various districts of J-K meant to cater the health care needs of the tribal population in an attempt to improve the health indicators of the migratory population, he said.
Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now
Be Part of Quality Journalism |
Quality journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce and despite all the hardships we still do it. Our reporters and editors are working overtime in Kashmir and beyond to cover what you care about, break big stories, and expose injustices that can change lives. Today more people are reading Kashmir Observer than ever, but only a handful are paying while advertising revenues are falling fast. |
| ACT NOW |
| MONTHLY | Rs 100 |  |
| YEARLY | Rs 1000 | |
| LIFETIME | Rs 10000 | |
