Tasaduq Hussain
Kupwara, Aug 28: Despite the shortage of doctors, manpower, equipment, and other loopholes, the health sector in the remote border district of Kupwara has struggled hard to achievement a big feat. Today, Kupwara district offers good health care to people if not best.
Kupwara one of the frontier districts in Jammu and Kashmir is about 100 Kilometers away from Srinagar. With fewer facilities and manpower available, the health department is striving hard to provide each native person with the best possible medical attention.
The health sector has made tremendous achievements in the last couple of years. They have been making efforts to ensure people get proper healthcare facilities throughout the year despite different challenges.
AB-PMAJAY
After the launch of Ayushman Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), a health scheme launched by the Government of India has been able to reach out to the people. “So far 94 per cent of the families have been covered to whom Ayushman Cards have been issued. More than 300000 availed the benefits of free hospitalization and medication worth and amount of 25 Crore Rupees,” the official figures reveal.
The official said that Kupwara being a remote and borders place, the health teams ensure that they reach the last mile villages that remain cut off from the rest of the world due to inclement weather conditions. “At least 820 Common Service Centers (CSCs) are functioning ensuring registration under the scheme. At the grassroots level in the association with PRI representatives and ASHA workers, everything is being ensured,” the official said.
Sharing figures, the official said that they have so far generated a total of 473240 Ayushman Cards (AB-PMJAY). “45945 patients from Kupwara district received free medical facilities including treatment for free outside J&K in different empanelled hospitals. Within District 22280 patients got benefited from AB-PMJAY.
Infrastructure
The officials said that over the last two years, there has been substantial infrastructure development in the health sector. “Community Health Centre (CHC) Kupwara was approved for the DNB programme. New buildings for the ease of the public have also come up and some are under construction.”
GMC Handwara
Officials said that the establishment of Government Medical College (GMC) Handwara is going to be a game changer for the entire population. “Associated hospitals shall provide tertiary care facilities in times to come. It means the referrals to GMC Baramulla and Srinagar Hospitals will come to almost zero.”
Improving Health Care
“Daycare chemotherapy and two dialysis centers reflected a significant achievement in improving health care. One more dialysis center has been approved for CHC Tangdhar, which is a hard-to-reach area. 10,000 sessions of dialysis have been conducted at CHC Kupwara and CHC Sogam. 1740 Chemotherapy doses have been given to patients,” the official said.
The official also said that over 3500 patients have availed benefits of 108 critical care ambulances. “Kupwara has received a national award after being declared TB-free.”
Some Achievements
Sharing details, the official said that till July 2023, a total of 55305 patients were received at OPD of which 28988 were admissions. “749 Major and 24140 minor surgeries were performed. 2210 deliveries were done of which 1361 were normal and 849 LSCS. 418286 lab tests, 13129 USG, 30955 X-Ray, and 14011 ECG were performed. 1767 were referred to different valley-based hospitals,” the official said.
Further, the official said that the healthcare facilities for the locals shall improve with time. (KNO)
