Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Apr 21: Director of Health Services Kashmir, Mushtaq Ahmad Rather, today urged people to take advantage of Government schemes and visit health melas held at every health block by the health department.
Addressing a press conference here, Rather said that the health melas are being held by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, which has adopted a strategy of organizing health melas to provide health education, and early diagnosis besides providing health care services, free of cost.
The director said that during the health melas they are stressing non-communicable diseases (NCDS) and health programs like the National Program for Prevention and Prevention of cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and stroke.
In addition, Rather said they are putting stress on the National Health Program for the care of the elderly, for which the Lieutenant Governor recently inaugurated 10-bed geriatric wards for the convenience of elderly patients in districts. They are being treated and admitted separately, and besides, there is a separate OPD and other facilities for them.
He said the department also runs the National Program for Control of Blindness, Ayushman Bharat, Jan Aushadi programs, the National Tobacco Program, and Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK).
Rather said that under RBSK, health workers go to school-going children from 0 to 18 for their medical check-ups, including congenital issues, deficiencies, and other diseases. Once these issues are detected, early treatment is given to them.
He informed that DHSK also runs the National Mental Health Program, which is a very vital program of the Government of India in which many mental issues like anxiety, depression, and several other issues are covered, and patients get the maximum benefits.
He said DHSK has set up 8 addiction treatment facilities (ATFs) centres in Kashmir. He said in every district hospital there are mental health programs and he appealed to people to come to hospitals where they will be counselled and treated.
Speaking about drug addiction, he said they needed the cooperation of people, civil society members, senior citizens, teachers, and all the stakeholders to fight drug abuse.
On the occasion, the director said it is important to organize such programs to connect with the general public and make them aware of the beneficial schemes of the health department.
The director appealed to people to take maximum benefits of the government schemes and register themselves for Ayushman Bharat golden card schemes, which is a unique feature in Jammu and Kashmir meant for both BPL and APL families.
He said in addition to the schemes, medicines are being provided free of cost to patients at primary health and secondary care centres.
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