Azad inaugurates SSH, launches RBSK, Project Swasthya Slate, J&K Referral Service

Union Minister for Health, Ghulam Nabi Azad laying foundation stone of bridge in tehsil Bishnah on Monday.
Union Minister for Health, Ghulam Nabi Azad laying foundation stone of bridge in tehsil Bishnah on Monday.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 3:
Union Health and Family Welfare Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad along with Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, today inaugurated 220 bedded Super Speciality Hospital besides launching Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakaram (RBSK), Project Swasthya Slate and 102-J&K Referral Service under National Rural Health Mission.
Jammu and Kashmir has been honoured with the credit of becoming the first State in the country to get the Project Swasthya Slate launched to cover most difficult parts of the State.
Deputy Chief Minister, Tara Chand, Minister for Health & Medical Education, Taj Mohi-ud-Din, Minister for R&B, Abdul Majid Wani, Minister for Culture, Raman Bhalla, MP Madan Lal Sharma, Minister of State for Planning & Finance, Manohar Lal, MLAs, MLCs, Commissioner/Secretary Health & Medical Education, Gazzafar Hussain, Additional Secretary and Mission Director, National Health Mission and Anuradha Gupta, Embassy NIPI were present on the occasion.
Congratulating the people for getting this special healthcare institution , the Union Health Minister was optimistic about the successful functioning of this prestigious centre which will surely play a key role to perk up the medicare facilities in the state  . He said that  the focus is being laid on extending  optimum relief to the people within the state thus saving them from waiting for months in other states for special healthcare services.
Spelling out achievements of the Center and State Governments, Azad said that “we have not only given new dimensions to health sector but all the development fields have witnessed a discernible change during the past 4 to 5 years”. “I had to work out several new schemes besides bringing in certain changes in existing rules for further streamlining of health sector in the country which has yielded incredible outcomes”, he added. Besides, it has also been ensured that these programmes reach the targeted segment.
Azad informed that one more medical college has also been sanctioned for Rajouri thus raising the total number of newly sanctioned MCs to 5. He said that now the Government has given nod to establishment of 75 Cancer Institutions in the country as compared to only 1 such center in the last 65 years.
Referring to shortage of medical faculty in the state, Azad asked the State Government to enhance the retirement age of doctors so that the health sector des not suffer for want of adequate staff . Regarding 102 referral service, he also asked the state Minister to bring the remaining sanctioned 200 ambulances at the earliest.
The Union Minister said that the UPA Government in its both tenures has extended massive financial and moral support to all the states irrespective of any political, social or religious considerations. He said that tremendous increase in number of people availing benefits of government programmes under different schemes of the government candidly reflects their faith and trust in government’s services.
Dr. Abdullah while speaking on the occasion extended gratitude to the Center for giving special consideration to development of J&K in view of its tough terrain and hoped that it will continue in future also.
Dr. Abdullah appealed the medical fraternity, staff and nurses to optimally utilize the latest facilities like Swasthya Slates to provide better services to the ailing. He asked them to work with allegiance to meet the responsibilities of their gracious profession.
Terming nursing as fundamental to healthcare, Farooq stressed upon the need of opening more private or Governmental nursing training colleges to meet the shortage of this vital force in  health sector. “I must say that without proper nursing healthcare is incomplete”, he added.
Later, Azad and other dignitaries distributed Swasthya slates among ASHAs and ANMs and flagged off mobile health teams under RBSK.
Mr Azad also laid foundation stone of 100 mtr span bridge over AIK nallah at Rehal area of tehsil Bishnah.
Estimated to cost Rs 3.85 crore, on its completion the Bridge would provide better connectivity to a large number of villages of the Border Tehsil.
Minister for PWD, Roads and Buildings, Mechanical Engineering, Abdul Majid Wani, Member Parliament, Madan Lal Sharma, MLA, Bishnah Ashwani Kumar Sharma, Ex-Minister Gulchain Singh Charak, besides Chief Engineer PWD, Abdul Hamid Sheikh and other senior officers of the department and district administration were also present at the foundation laying ceremony.
Examining the plan and design of the project, the Union Minister advised the executing agency to build the bridge on the lines of latest   Bridge Construction Techniques being used worldwide. He asked the engineers to take all necessary precautions to ensure longevity and sustainability of the bridge.
Later, Ashwani Kumar Sharma and Gulchain Singh Charak also spoke on the occasion.
Mr Sharma assured the gathering that bridge would be completed before the onset of Monsoon.

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