Chandigarh, August 11- With an aim to provide unmatched healthcare services to the people of the State, Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal has asked the officers concerned to conduct a survey to have an estimate regarding people in need of Keratoplasty Surgery (a cornea transplant is a surgical procedure to replace part of your cornea with corneal tissue from a donor) and then treat them accordingly.
The Chief Minister has also asked the officers to conduct a survey in schools in the state with regard to children having a squint in their eyes so that they can be also be treated for the same under the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK).
This information came to light during the 7th General Body Meeting of National Health Mission, Haryana under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal. Deputy Chief Minister, Sh. Dushyant Chautala, Health Minister, Sh. Anil Vij, Minister for Welfare of SCs & BCs, Dr. Banwari Lal were also present in the meeting. During the meeting the Health Minister, Sh. Anil Vij apprised the Chief Minister that Thailand Government was in touch with the Health Department after they found that the COVID Management Model of the state was very efficient.
The Chief Minister was also apprised during the meeting that as per his directions to expand the Blindness Control Programme, Eye Banks have been set up in 22 districts of the state. The Chief Minister was also informed that the Department will soon be starting the facility of a functional kitchen in Hospitals. Also, just as the children of the government schools are provided health facilities under the RBSK, similarly the children falling in the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) category of private schools will also be provided health benefits under the RBSK.
During the meeting it was also pointed out that the ongoing eSanjeevaniOPD -SAFE HOME OPD, an initiative of Government of India has been ranked 8th and the State is providing 24 hours consultation to the people. The Health Minister, Sh. Vij thereafter asked the officers to conduct surprise checks to ensure that the eSanjeevani consultation is available 24 hours for the people of the State.
It was also mentioned during the meeting that to ensure that the coming generation understands the importance of good health, Haryana has started imparting school based sessions through Health and Wellness Ambassadors in the school curriculum. Haryana is among the few states imparting such trainings to students and this School Health and Wellness Ambassador Programme has been launched in 7 districts namely, Karnal, Mewat, Palwal, Panipat, Panchkula and Yamunanagar. Besides this, under the Kayakalp Programme, 58 Urban Primary Health Centres (UPHCs) have been given the Kayakalp Awards, an initiative of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India to ensure hygiene, sanitation and cleanliness in Public Health Facilities in India.
The Chief Minister was informed about the steps taken to improve maternal and child health in the State. He was apprised that Under-Five Mortality Rate (U5MR) (occurring during 60 months of completing life) has reduced from 78 Sample Registration System (SRS) in 2005 to 36 SRS in 2018, Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) (occurring during 12 months of completing life) has reduced from 60 SRS in 2005 to 30 SRS in 2018, Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) (occurring during 28 days of completing life) has reduced from 35 SRS in 2008 to 22 SRS in 2018, Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) has reduced from 186 SRS in 2004-2006 to 91 SRS in 2016-2018. Similarly, the institutional deliveries that were at a low of 43.3% in 2005 have been increased to 95.7% in 2016-2018. He was also informed that Maternity Child Health Hospitals have been set up in Panipat Panchkula and Nuh. Also, a documentary on National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) and three television commercials on Special Outreach camps, UHNDs and Reducing home deliveries in urban areas are being aired on Radio, TV channels to increase community awareness.
The Chief Minister also heard the suggestions of the Sarpanches and doctors who were present in the meeting.
Among others present in the meeting were, Chief Secretary, Sh. Vijai Vardhan, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Sh. V. Umashankar, Additional Chief Secretary, Medical Education and Research Department, Sh. Alok Nigam, Additional Chief Secretary, Health & Family Welfare Department, Sh. Rajeev Arora, Additional Chief Secretary, Finance and Planning Departments, Sh. T.VS.N. Prasad and Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Dr. Amit Agrawal.