Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 10: Jammu and Kashmir is all set to become the first state in North India to implement Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) – Child Health Screening and Early Intervention Services in all the districts under National Rural Health Mission (NRHM).
The implementation process of the scheme was reviewed today by the Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Shabir Ahmed Khan at a high level officers meeting of Health Department held here today.
Addressing the meeting, the Minister said that RBSK is a new initiative undertaken by the Union Health Ministry and is aimed at screening children from 0 to 18 years for 4 Ds – defects at birth, diseases, deficiencies and development delays including disabilities. He said children diagnosed with illnesses would receive follow up including surgeries at tertiary level, free of cost under NRHM.
The Minister said that the Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has been requested to launch the scheme formally in Jammu and Kashmir. “We must ensure that the implementation process is completed as per the deadline set by the department so that the programme is launched as per the schedule”, the Minister directed the concerned officers.
He said it is the sincere efforts and intervention of State Government and Union Health Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad that Jammu and Kashmir is among few and the only state in North India to be in a position to implement the scheme in all the districts.
“The Government is keen to ensure that the benefit of the scheme reaches to the needy people across the state and in this direction we have been ensured all possible financial help”, he said.
The meeting was informed that the District Health Societies across the state have already taken up the process to implement the scheme in their respective districts. In this regard almost all the District Societies have set the recruitment process in motion and same is expected to be completed by mid of this month.
It was further told that under the new initiative a total of 773 posts, including AYUSH doctors, ANMs etc have been sanctioned under NRHM and the State Government has already received over Rs 17 crore from the Centre. The scheme will be implemented through dedicated mobile health teams placed in every medical block of the state. The teams will carry out screening of all children in the pre-school age enrolled at Anganwadi centres at least twice a year besides screening of all children studying in Government and Government aided schools, whereas the newborns will be screened for birth defects in health facilities by service providers and during the home visits by ASHAs.
Secretary, Health and Medical Education, Gazanfar Hussain, Director Indian System of Medicines, Dr. Abdul Kabeer, Mission Director, National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), Dr. Yash Pal Sharma, Director Health Services, Jammu, B.S. Pathnia, Director Family Welfare, Dr. Baldev Sharma, Controller Drugs and Food Control Organization, Satish Gupta, Chief Medical Officers, Medical Superintendents of all Districts, besides other senior officers of Health Department attended the meeting.
Meanwhile, the Minister released annual publication “Operational Guidelines” of Jammu and Kashmir State Health Society at an impressive function held here today.
Speaking on the occasion, the Health Minister appreciated the efforts of NRHM functionaries for publishing such a knowledgeable, informative publication explaining the guidelines regarding various schemes/programmes under National Rural Health Mission.
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