Srinagar August 29 (KNS): With a mission to provide better Maternal and Child Health Care services under National Health Mission, J&K Ministry of Health & Family Welfare in collaboration with National Health Mission, J&K & Norway India Partnership Initiative today started 03 days training programme w.e.f. 29th to 31st August 2022 for Paediatricians , Medical Officers and Staff Nurses from all the Districts of UT of J&K and Ladakh at Srinagar.
Yasin M. Choudhary, Mission Director, NHM, J&K was chief guest on the occassion and Dr. Iftakhar Ahmed Chowdhary, Mission Director NHM, UT of Ladakh was guest of Honour.
Speaking on the occasion, Mission Director NHM, J&K said that Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) has seen a remarkable improvement in the number of indicators related to child health in recent years. As per recently released SRS 2020 data, Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) has decreased in the UT by 3 points from 20 to 17 per 1000 live births.
He said that, neonatal survival is one of the highest priorities of Govt. of India and under NHM, Facility Based Newborn Care Network (SNCUs/ NBSUs and NBCC) have been set up for providing newborn services at various levels. Newborn Stabilization Units (NBSU) are an important part of the facility based newborn care. However, these units continue to remain underutilized, one of the main reasons being the lack of confidence and poor skills of healthcare providers working in these units. As a part of the strategy to revitalize these units, a new “NBSU Training Package” for both doctors and nurses has been developed by the Child Health Division, MoHFW, GoI with technical support from the Norway India Partnership Initiative (NIPI) and other technical experts, with an aim to empower the health care providers with essential knowledge and skills for optimal management of any newborn presenting at NBSU thereby improving health status of newborns.
Expert trainers from various parts of the country have been deputed by MoH&FW, GoI to impart the training to participants from Govt. Medical Colleges & District Health Societies for specialized training in treatment and stabilization of Sick Newborn to further reduce the neonatal & infant mortality rate (IMR) in the UT. Through this training package, a large number of babies will receive quality care at the sub-district level thus preventing referral and overburdening of district level facilities, resulting in improvement of neonatal survival to a great extent.
Others who were present on the occasion included Mr. Vishal Kataria, Technical Consultant, MoH&FW, GoI, Dr Misbah Samad, Divisional Modal Officer, NHM, Kashmir, Dr. Mushtaq Ahmad Dar, State Programme Manager, NIPI-J&K and other senior officers from NHM, J&K and NIPI. (KNS)