Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 18: Minister of State for Health, Shabir Ahmad Khan has underscored the need for reducing Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) in the State by taking concrete health care measures and stressed upon the concerned authorities to reach out at grass root level for better implementation of National Rural Health Mission which guarantees to provide quality health care facilities to the ruralarities.
Speaking at the inaugural function of one day workshop organized by the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) J&K, here today, with the objective of sensitization of the Programme Management Units at District and Block Level including the District Resource Persons and the AHSA Facilitators who are engaged in training of ASHAs at block level, the minister said that high neonatal mortality has been area of great concern in the state. He said though the infant mortality rate has decreased from 52 in 2006 to 41 in 2012 but the neonatal mortality is still higher as compared to national level in the State.
He stressed need to focus on decreasing the neonatal mortality by improving the facility based and home based newborn care in the State. The facility newborn care is being improved by establishment of Sick Newborn Care Units at District Level, Stabilization Units at CHC Level and Baby Care Units at delivery points including PHCs and Sub Centers, he maintained.
The Health Minister said the home based newborn care which will prove a key intervention in decreasing the neonatal mortality is being carried out with the help of AHSAs at community level. He said the ASHAs will guide the pregnant mothers and their families in providing neonatal care at home, adding for the purpose 12000 ASHAs are working actively in the State to provide the services at grass root level.
The Health Minister also handed over cheques to the beneficiaries under financial assistance scheme for advance treatment outside the state.
Mission Director NRHM, Dr Yashpal Sharma informed that during home visits ASHA will provide services including weighing of newborn, measuring newborn temperature, insuring warmth etc. “ASHA monitoring groups will be formed at various levels to conduct regular follow up meetings. All district management units have been called for their support in logistics and supervision of trainings,” he informed.
Prominent among others present on the occasion included Director Health Services, Jammu, Dr Madhu Khullar, Controller Drug, Satish Gupta, Deputy Director Headquarters, Dr Baldev Sharma, Deputy Director Schemes, Dr BS Pathania, CMO, Jammu, Dr Javed Akhtar Chib, Deputy Director ISM, Dr Rashpal Singh and ADMO, Jammu, Dr KK Sharma, Dr Harjeet Rai, DNO, Jammu, Sadiq Khan, State ASHA training coordinator.
Follow our WhatsApp channel