JK CM for sustained Indo-Pak dialogue

World Health Day observed

Jammu, April 07 (Scoop News) –    Welcoming the proposed meeting between Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh and Pak President, Asif Ali Zardari, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah highlighted the sustained dialogue between the two countries to resolve all issues.

            “We want a continuous dialogue process between the two neighbours to address the problems and find out solution”, he told the media at the sidelines of ‘World Health Day’ function he addressed at Zorawar Singh Auditorium in Jammu University on Saturday.

            “We would also like that Jammu and Kashmir centric CBMs like Cross LoC Bus Service and Trade matters be discussed apart from other ongoing issues. We would like that the Rehabilitation Policy for return of youth from PoK and Cross LoC infiltration also come up for talks so that benefits trickle to the State”, he said adding “we are in favour of sustained dialogue in an amicable atmosphere to address all bigger and smaller issues”.

            The Chief Minister said that the visit of Union Home Minister, P. Chidambaram to the State is a routine one. He said issues relating to the security scenario, AFSPA, Interlocutors Report, reduction of forces, etc would come up during the talks with the Union Home Minister.

            Addressing the gathering on ‘World Health Day’ function, the Chief Minister underscored the need for active involvement of civil society in stopping the evil of female feticide in the State and contributing in the successful implementation of ‘Save Girl Child Programme’.

            Omar Abdullah said that Jammu and Kashmir has earned bad name for the higher graph reported about the female feticide which should be great concern to every member of the society. “To discriminate girl child against boys and considering male children important than girls is a sick mindset which requires early addressing”, he said adding that this disease developing in the minds of people and making them to indulge in female feticide is the worst kind of ‘sin’ for which there is no forgiveness from the Almighty.

            “While government has geared up its machinery in Health and other concerned departments to focus on the issue and create public awareness about the far reaching consequences and dangerous effects of female feticide civil society has an important role to play in this direction”, he said underlining the role of ASHA workers in particular.

            Reiterating his government’s endeavour for universalization of quality health service across the State, the Chief Minister said that healthy Jammu and Kashmir is his mission. He said the benefits of development can only be relished when the people are healthy. “Creation of schools and colleges, construction of roads and bridges, providing employment and bringing socio-economic betterment can be of positive utilization only when the people are healthy”, he said flagging health sector the most important one in the process of development.

            Omar Abdullah said that due to this significance, his government has paid highest attention towards holistic development of health sector during the last three years adding that the results of which are being witnessed on ground at present. “Our focus on this sector would continue”, he said appreciating the functionaries of the State Health and Medical Education Departments for proper implementation of schemes aimed at upgrading health facilities in the State. He also praised the efforts of State Health Minister in this regard.

            Omar Abdullah said that the revival of ASHA scheme by his government is proving highly beneficial in facilitating health facilities to pregnant women and children in rural areas. He said that government would further strengthen the scheme to enhance its reach and impact on the society and create awareness about ‘girl child safety’.

             On the slogan ‘good health adds life to years’ flagged for this year’s ‘World Health Day’, the Chief Minister describes it more relevant in the present day life style adding that the changes in our life pattern due to modernization, mechanization and industrialization have put question mark to the health of a person. He said that in order to add life to the years, necessary correction is required in our life style, food habits and other day to day activities.

            “Nowadays people especially children spent most of the time indoors watching TV. It is observed that children are reluctant to leave the TV and go for playing and outing. Our food habits are also changing fast”, he said adding that all this has to be looked into to ‘add life to the years’ particularly at the old age period when good health is of tremendous significance.

            The Chief Minister lauded the Union Government for extending various schemes in the health sector to the State to improve and upgrade health facilities. He said that National Urban Health Mission is being launched in the State on the pattern of National Rural Health Mission to cover the population in the towns and the cities of the State.

            Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Health, Sham Lal Sharma said that due to the efforts of Health Department and because of the overall guidance of Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, the State has registered tremendous improvement in service delivery to the people in health sector.

            Substantiating his statement with facts and figures, Sham Lal Sharma said that during the last three years there has been 70 percent increase in the service delivery to OPD patients while it has been 128 percent to IPD patients. He said 120 percent increase has been registered in the conduct of operations, 115 percent in Ultrasound, 195 percent in Lab tests, 120 percent in X-ray and 74 percent in Institutional deliveries. He said these figures are authenticated by the increase in the receipt of fee showing increase of 302 percent despite no increase in the fee pattern.

            Sham Lal said that the improvement in the service delivery has been achieved due to the hard work of functionaries of the Health Department at various levels besides ASHA workers.

            “A roadmap for the sustained development in Health sector along with delivery of quality service has already been put in place”, he said adding that the next three years would witness holistic progress in this sector across the State.

            In her welcome address, Commissioner Secretary Health and Medical Education, Tanveer Jahan highlighted the significance of observance of ‘World Health Day’ on 7th April every year with a theme adding that this helps the functionaries of the department to focus on the subject and make necessary dent.

            She said that the theme of ‘aging and health’ and the slogan ‘good health adds life to years’ selected for this year’s observance of ‘World Health Day’ would help the department to make these aspects benchmark to move ahead ensuring better service to the elderly people in the State.

            Present on the occasion, were Director Health Service, Jammu, Madhu Khullar, Director NRHM, Dr. Yash Paul Sharma, Director Indian System of Medicine, Dr. Kabir Dar, Director Family Welfare and other senior officers of the Health Department besides a large number of doctors, para-medical staff, ASHA workers and citizens.

            Performance Report of the Health Department covering last three years was also released on the occasion.

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