Lal Singh inspects healthcare facilities at SMGS hospital

Minister for Education, Ch Lal Singh witnessing a Yoga Championship at Sainik Colony on Monday.
Minister for Education, Ch Lal Singh witnessing a Yoga Championship at Sainik Colony on Monday.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 28: Minister for Health and Medical Education, ARI and Trainings, Ch Lal Singh today visited Shri Maharaja Gulab Singh (SMGS) hospital and inspected the healthcare facilities being provided to the people by the hospital administration.
Principal, Government Medical College Dr. Zahid Gillani, Director Health Services Dr. Baljeet Singh Pathania, Director Family Welfare Dr. Baldev Raj Sharma, Mission Director NHM Dr. Mohan Singh, Medical Superintendent SMGS Hospital Dr. Dara Singh and CMO SMGS Hospital Dr Rajinder Thappa besides other senior officers of the hospital accompanied the Minister.
During the inspection, the Minister directed for face-lifting of the hospital wards, blood bank, theaters and main corridors. He asked the Medical Superintendent to ensure that patients are facilitated at every level. He said more and more facilities would be added to the hospital and also financial assistance, as per norms, would be provided to the hospital.
The Minister asked the doctors and paramedics to put in their best effort to maintain and carry forward the distinguished position achieved by the State healthcare system. He said medical is a noble profession and everyone associated with it must maintain high ethics and serve the patient with missionary zeal.
Ch Lal Singh informed that Government is on job to establish five new Government Medical Colleges in various districts of the State besides existing Colleges will be upgraded with better facilities.  He said all the hospitals in rural and remote areas are being equipped with necessary infrastructural facilities along-with adequate staff and medicine.
The Minister advocated curbing the menace of female feticide, saying society must cooperate in dealing with this serious issue. “Only Government efforts are not adequate to tackle this social issue, but every right thinking person including social/religious organizations have to put their efforts to check this menace,” he asserted.
Earlier, the Minister also attended a Yoga Championship at Handa College of Education at Sainik Colony. The Yoga Championship was organised by J&K Yoga Association in collaboration with Sports Council in the college premises.
MLA Surinder Choudhary, Chairman Handa College of Education Veena Handa besides teaching and non-teaching staff members and students in large numbers were present on the occasion.
The Minister complimented the organizers for the initiative which he said, will go a long way in providing opportunity to the local population, particularly the youth, to derive benefits from Yoga. He highlighted the importance of Yoga in our day-to-day life, observing that it contributes to balanced mental and physical health.
Ch Lal Singh said that the importance of Yoga has been noted world-wide, after the December 2014 Session of United Nations General Assembly declared June 21 as the International Yoga Day at the initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Minister stressed the usefulness of Yoga Camps being organized by the Sports department in various venues of the State every year to promote the practice of Yoga among the people. He said there is no dearth of talent in the children of Jammu and Kashmir and hoped that they will be enabled to showcase their Yoga skills at the national and international level.