DC Cachar launches Project ‘AASTHA’ for counselling support to quarantined inmates

July 7: Mental health or mental well-being of a person is as important as physical health in order to lead a normal existence. The issue of mental health assumes more significance when it comes to persons connected with COVID-19 in one or the other way. Fear of the disease and social stigma often demoralises persons put under quarantine or placed under treatment in COVID wards. Similar mental strain is also experienced by the family members of coronavisus patients. It is in this backdrop that Cachar district administration has come up with an unique endeavour.

Deputy Commissioner Keerthi Jalli launched Project “AASTHA” in Cachar on Tuesday. This is an initiative to provide psychological support to the quarantined inmates and also the families of COVID-19 positive patients. In a ceremonial programme at Maharshi Vidya Mandir, Kathal Road, Keerthi Jalli said “Often the inmates of quarantined center suffers from psychological issues like anxiety, stress etc. There are instances when people have become hostile in the quarantined facilities. Moreover, the patients’ families also face similar kind of situation at their houses. Keeping all these in view, we have decided to provide counselling support to them with the help of Department of Psychiatry, Silchar Medical College & Hospital (SMCH).

DC Jalli was accompanied by the Additional Deputy Commissioner Sumit Sattawan, Joint Director of Health Services Dr. S.J. Das, Psychiatrist of SMCH Dr. Prasenjit Ghosh, Dr. Dipankar Chakraborty, DNO, NMHP and other officials of the Health Department. It needs mention here that Rahul Ghose, DPM, NHM has designed the project “AASTHA.”

There is a similar kind of program called ‘Manan’, which is being implemented by the Government of Assam in which tele- counseling is given through ‘104.’