Health status indicator of prosperity: Omar Abdullah

Srinagar: Asserting that the prosperity of a state is directly related to its health service delivery status, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said keeping the state healthy was his mission and initiatives to achieve this goal were being implemented positively.

”Unless we achieve the mark in universalising healthcare facilities across the state particularly in rural, far-flung and remote areas, we cannot achieve the target of prosperous Jammu and Kashmir”, he said, adding that his government has focused on development of health sector on priority.
Addressing the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) Samelan Ganderbal in the central Kashmir, the Chief Minister said while secondary and tertiary health institutions at district and divisional levels were being upgraded and strengthened according to modern healthcare trends, equal attention was being paid to improve the health service delivery in rural areas.
”We have to put in more efforts to bring rural health centres at par with hospitals in towns and cities”, he said, adding that NRHM has an important role to play in this direction.
Mr Abdullah said in order to equip hospitals in rural areas with necessary equipment and manpower, befitting measures have been taken and special packages for doctors and para-medical staff provided to make their work in rural areas comfortable.
Underlining the importance of mother-baby care, the Chief Minister said ASHA and Anganwari Workers have special role to play in this direction for creating awareness among the people about the health care facilities available under this and other health schemes.
He said his government provided adequate matching share for the successful implementation of health schemes sponsored by the Centre.
Mr Abdullah asked the Health Department to work hard to maintain the number one position it has obtained in healthcare sector last year.
”You have to put in redoubled efforts to maintain this grading”, he said, assuring full support for the development and upgradation of health facilities in the state.