Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh chaired the Governing Body Meeting (GBM) of State Health Society of National Health Mission (NHM), UT Ladakh on March 20.

Advisor Umang Narula, Principal Secretary, Dr Pawan Kotwal; Mission Director, NHM Ladakh, Dr Iftakhar Ahmed Chowdhry and Director Health Services, Ladakh, Dr Motup Dorje attended the meeting.

Thanking the entire medical fraternity for their selfless service during the COVID-19 pandemic period, LG Mathur highlighted issues to improve the overall health services in Ladakh. He suggested conducting an analysis of area-wise disease burden in Ladakh, and the need for plans and measures to address these issues. He stressed on the need to check with experts the kind of health infrastructure needed in Ladakh as per the Government of India guidelines.

LG Mathur also highlighted the need to take necessary steps to address the health issues mentioned in the National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-5. He suggested that a mechanism may be developed to monitor these health issues on an annual basis to improve the overall health of the people of Ladakh. He directed the Health Department to achieve the target of eradicating tuberculosis (TB) from Ladakh by the end of 2022.

LG Mathur suggested that locally produced sanitary pads may be distributed among girls and women in Ladakh through the Industries Department, and health advisory on diseases such as TB and diabetes be issued using Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials such as billboards and social media handles. He stressed on the need to provide electricity, running water, heating and ramps in health centres and the upgradation of the SNM Hospital in Leh. He suggested conducting mobile health camps in remote areas such as Changthang, providing facilities such as ambulance and police vehicles along with satellite phones on the national highways for the swift handling of trauma cases, bringing Jan Aushadhi Kendras upfront in Leh and Kargil and expanding these Jan Aushadhi Kendras to cover all the Community Health Centres (CHCs) in Leh and Kargil.

LG Mathur also highlighted the need to provide ultrasound facilities at CHCs and Primary Health Centres (PHCs) for the benefit of pregnant women, providing health insurance to all individuals, conducting mohalla clinics for tourists and migrant labourers, upgradation and a full-fledged hospital for Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel, procuring new equipment such as high-quality dental chairs and eye-testing equipment, and improving diagnostics in all health centres.

Principal Secretary, Dr Kotwal and Director Health Services Dr Motup said that they would try to resolve these issues at the earliest.

Advisor Narula suggested making plans to address the issues and having fixed targets for the target areas. He also suggested providing incentives to ASHA workers and NHM staff through various central government schemes.

Earlier, Mission Director NHM Ladakh, Dr Iftakhar, gave a detailed presentation on the agenda of the meeting, viz. approval of Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) for the financial year 2022-23 and 2023-24, incentives for ASHA workers from funds under Emergency COVID-19 Response Package (ECRP)-1, incentives for NGM staff, etc.