Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, Apr 30: In order to create awareness among people, health functionaries and mainly the field functionaries like FMPHWs, ASHAs and AWWS who are directly associated with the implementation of various schemes/programmes under National Rural Health Mission at ground level, Department of Health organised NRHM Sammelan at Saheed Bhagat Singh Yadgaar Hall here today.
Minister for Health, Floriculture and Horticulture Sham Lal Sharma presided over the function.
Minister of State for Cooperatives, Finance, Planning ,Printing & stationery Dr. Manohar Lal sharma, MLA Kathua Charanjit Singh, MLA Basholi Jagdish Raj Sapolia, MLC Subhash Gupta, Ex-MLA Girdari Lal Chalotra, Deputy Commissioner Kathua Zahida Parveen Khan, Director Health Services Jammu Dr. Madhu Khullar, Director NRHM J&K Dr. Yash Paul Sharma, CMO Kathua Ajay Khajuria, BMOs and many others were present on the occasion.
While addressing gathering comprising of ASHA workers, panches and sarpanches and other people, Sham Lal Sharma said that Health sector is the top most priority of the State as well as Central Government as a result of which health services in the State have improved manifolds. He said that department is providing free health facilities to senior citizens, pregnant women and children upto the age of 5.
Minister said that main thrust of the Government is to provide health facilities in the rural and remote areas of the State. He said that 95% of the patient care/ treatment is provided by the Government health institutions.
He asked the CMO, Kathua to make a project of 50 bedded maternity and child hospital and submit it to the department for approval.
Speaking on the occasion Dr. Manohar Lal Sharma said that under National Rural Health Mission, health facilities have improved much but still there are many villages where people have to go far off for health facilities.
Earlier, Minister for Health inspected the stalls put up by various blocks of the district displaying their achievements.
Mr. Sham Lal Sharma gave away memento and cash award of Rs. 5000/ to the national award winner ASHA Worker Darshan Devi. Mementoes were also presented to the meritorious ASHA workers.