Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 25: With a view to ensure ready availability of quality generic medicines at lowest costs, Jan Aushadhi Generic Drug Stores will be set up by the Red Cross in all the District Hospitals in the State.
Decision to this effect was taken at the 168th Managing Committee Meeting of the Indian Red Cross Society, J&K State Branch, held under the chairmanship of N. N. Vohra, Governor, at Raj Bhavan, here today.
The Governor emphasized the need for establishing generic drug stores in all the District Hospitals within next six months to make available certified drugs. He added that gradually such drug stores should also be opened at the Tehsil and Block levels.
Referring to the need for intensifying Red Cross activities in the State, the Governor observed that the District, Regional and State Branches of the Red Cross should generate the required logistics and resources for promptly and effectively dealing with all emergent situations to provide timely relief and succour to the needy.
In this context, he stressed the high importance of organizing First Aid and short term Disaster Management courses and security drills for the Red Cross volunteers to build their capacities in undertaking rescue and relief operations in the hour of need. He said that these activities are required to be extended to schools, colleges and universities to increase the number of volunteers.
He observed that medical training camps should be organized periodically, particularly in the accident prone, remote and far-flung areas of the State, to train volunteers to render first aid and utilize other life saving techniques to save lives in the case of any emergent situation till specialized medical assistance becomes available to the needy.
The Governor stressed for all the required measures being taken for enlarging resource base of the Red Cross and suggested that Red Cross Melas should be organized periodically in all the districts while the Red Cross Melas at the Divisional levels could be held at least twice a year to raise resources. He observed that corporate houses, philanthropic organizations, NGOs and affluent sections of society need to be approached for contributing to the Red Cross activities. He reiterated that, among various other initiatives, Red Cross collection boxes should be placed at the Airports, Railway Stations, Bus Stands, Hospitals, Government offices and other public places to encourage and enable the public to make their contributions for giving a fillip to the activities of Red Cross.
Reviewing the status of construction of Red Cross Complex at Srinagar, the Governor stressed the importance of this building being completed within a fixed time frame.
Shabir Ahmad Khan, Minister of State for Health, gave details of the various schemes launched to help the poor patients suffering from serious ailments.
Mohd. Iqbal Khandey, Chief Secretary, emphasized the need for progressively increasing the number of Red Cross Volunteers to enlarge the ambit of Red Cross activities.
Earlier, Roma Wani, Honorary General Secretary, IRCS, J&K State Branch, made a detailed presentation to highlight the activities of the organization and its future Action Plan.
B. R. Sharma, Principal Secretary, Planning and Development; P. L. Gupta, Additional Director General of Police (Coordination) PHQ; B. B. Vyas, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister and Principal Secretary, Finance; Suresh Kumar, Principal Secretary, Home; Navin K. Choudhary, Principal Secretary to the Governor; Shailendra Kumar, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir; Pradeep Gupta, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu; M. K. Dwivedi, Commissioner/Secretary, Health and Medical Education; Gazzanfar Hussain, Secretary, Social Welfare; Hirdesh Kumar, Secretary, Education; Sheikh Mushtaq Ahmad, Secretary, General Administration; Deputy Commissioners of various districts, members of the Committee and senior Civil and Security Forces officers participated in the meeting.
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