Dr Lakshmanan S. review child health services across Barak Valley

way2barak, June 22: Reaffirming the Assam Government’s commitment to improving child healthcare and ensuring equitable access to quality medical services, a high-level team led by Dr P. Ashok Babu, IAS, Commissioner & Secretary to the Government of Assam, Health & Family Welfare Department and Dr Lakshmanan S., IAS, Mission Director, National Health Mission (NHM), Assam undertook a comprehensive review of child health services across the Barak Valley region.

During the visit, the senior officials carried out an extensive assessment of healthcare facilities and service delivery systems in Cachar, Sribhumi and Hailakandi districts. The review focused on evaluating the current status of child healthcare services, identifying existing challenges and exploring measures to further improve health outcomes for children across the region.

As part of the exercise, the officials also visited Silchar Medical College and Hospital and inspected the district hospitals of the three districts. They reviewed the availability of paediatric healthcare services, infrastructure, medical equipment and human resources while interacting with doctors, healthcare providers and hospital authorities to gain a clear understanding of operational requirements and service-related challenges.

The delegation also held a series of review meetings with district administrations and health officials to assess the implementation of child health and maternal health programmes under the National Health Mission. Discussions were held on strengthening referral mechanisms, enhancing access to quality healthcare services, reducing infant mortality and ensuring the effective delivery of essential health interventions at every level of the healthcare system.

The review process included detailed interactions with the District Commissioners of the three districts. Shri Aayush Garg, IAS, District Commissioner of Cachar, Shri Pradeep Kumar Dwivedi, IAS, District Commissioner of Sribhumi and Shri Abhishek Jain, IAS, District Commissioner of Hailakandi, participated in the deliberations and shared district-specific experiences, achievements and challenges related to healthcare service delivery and programme implementation.

Meanwhile, the officials also undertook field visits to villages across the region to obtain first-hand feedback from the community. They interacted with parents, beneficiaries, frontline health workers and local residents to understand ground realities relating to child health services, immunisation coverage, nutritional support and access to healthcare facilities. The information collected during these interactions are expected to assist in shaping future policy decisions and targeted interventions aimed at improving health outcomes for children.

Senior medical officers, district health officials and healthcare personnel from all three districts attended the review sessions and apprised the visiting delegation of ongoing initiatives, achievements and priority areas requiring additional support and resources.

This was stated in a press release issued by the Regional Office of Information & Public Relations, Barak Valley Zone, Silchar, Assam.