Ganderbal, Oct 27: Asserting that the prosperity of a State is directly related to its health service delivery status; Omar Abdullah Wednesday said that healthy Jammu and Kashmir is his mission and initiatives to achieve this goal are being implemented positively.
 “Unless we achieve the mark in universalizing health care facilities across the State particularly in rural, far-flung and remote areas we cannot achieve the target of prosperous Jammu and Kashmir”, he said adding that his Government has focused on the development of health sector on priority.
 Addressing National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) Samelan here, the Chief Minister said that while secondary and tertiary health institutions at district and divisional levels are being upgraded and strengthened according to modern health care trends, the equal attention is being paid to improve the health service delivery in rural areas. “We have to put in more efforts to bring rural health centres at par with hospitals in the towns and cities,” he said adding that NRHM has an important role to play in this direction.
 Omar said that in order to equip hospitals in rural areas with necessary equipment and manpower befitting measures have been taken and special packages for doctors and para-medical staff provided to make them work in rural areas comfortably.
 The Chief Minister underlined the importance of mother-baby care and said that ASHA and Anganwari Workers have special role to play in this direction for creating awareness among the people about the health care facilities available under this and other health schemes. He said his Government provided adequate matching share for the successful implementation of health schemes sponsored by the Central Government.
 Omar asked the Health Department to work hard to maintain the No. 1 position it has obtained in health care sector last year. “You have to put in redoubled efforts to maintain this grading”, he said assuring full support of the Government for the development and upgradation of health facilities in the State.
 The Chief Minister presented awards to the best ASHA workers and Block Medical Officer on the occasion.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 27 Oct 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 27 Oct 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 28 Oct 2011 00:00:00 IST