Culmination program of Nagaland Health Project held

Kohima, November 24 (MTNews): The culmination program of Nagaland Health Project (NHP), a World Bank Aided Project, was held at the Capital Cultural Centre, Kohima on Thursday with Minister, Health & Family Welfare, S. Pangnyu Phom as the special guest.

NHP which has two components, namely Component 1 (Community action for health and nutrition) and Component 2 (Health system development), with support from World Bank, aims to improve the management and delivery of health services and increase their utilization by communities in targeted localities in Nagaland without duplicating existing government programs.

NHP on average achieved 95% physical and 82% financial progress: S Pangnyu Phom

Addressing the gathering, Minister Pangnyu Phom said that Nagaland Health Project is the first state level project funded by the World Bank with its focus on selected sites such as District Hospitals, Community Health Centres, Primary Health Centres, Sub-Centres and its catchment villages.

He said that “high volume ground level storage tank was projected to be constructed” in order to store water from roof water harvesting; elevated water tanks to be used in order to store and supply running water to the health facilities through pipelines were constructed in 175 health facilities.

“Civil repair and renovation works have been completed in 4 Nursing Schools and PMTI, 9 District Hospitals, 158 targeted health facilities,” he said, adding that repair and renovation works in two District Hospitals, construction of Library and Theatre Block in Nagaland Medical College are in progress.

Pangnyu further informed that since its inception, Nagaland Health Project (NHP) has successfully signed 133 contracts, of which only 16 remain active and the rest 117 contracts are completed.

“As of today, NHP on average has achieved 95% physical and 82% financial progress,” he said, and added that even during COVID-19 pandemic, NHP constructed oxygen generation plant houses at 8 District Hospitals and installed oxygen pipelines at various health facilities.

Asangla Imti on irregular quarterly reviews at district levels and ways for improvement

Stating that with every development stories, there are lessons to learn to improve upon, and how these interventions needs to be carried forward in the future, Asangla Imti, Secretary and Chair, Project Executive Committee pointed out how quarterly reviews were not conducted regularly at the district level and stated that the issue needs to be taken seriously.

She also pointed out that the record keeping, proper documentation and timely reporting was not up to mark and thus emphasized the need to practice with sincerity as “this is an important input for policy makers to plan and frame policies.”

She also opined that Project Grievance Redressal Mechanism needs to be addressed as it is important to monitor and address problems on the spot.

She also suggested that the Village Committee at the grassroots need to figure out how to improve the health system by planning properly so as to spend the funds judiciously.

“This requires the collective efforts of the stakeholders including the District Officers. Communitization needs to be practiced and implemented,” she said, and concluded that it is the responsibility and obligation of all to work hand in hand, and to improve the health delivery system in the State.

Marion Jane Cros all praise for Result Based Financing

Senior Health Economist, World Bank, Marion Jane Cros highlighted the role of the community, stating that it is the key driver which has really helped shape the health system of Nagaland. She also lauded the State for implementing the project through Result Based Financing, which she stated is not easy to implement.

She further added that the NHP has been able to help in system strengthening which she hoped will continue further through the lessons learnt. To further institutionalize the project, she pointed out the need for funding, and requested the government to address the issue of financial assistance so that the community will be able to continue the good work.

Retired Principal Director & Former Project Director, Nagaland Health Project, Dr. Nandira Changkija also narrated about the difficulties faced in the early years of the health sector in the State, and how NHP concept was started. She credited the World Bank team, State Government, bureaucrats involved in bringing about the project in spite of facing so many hurdles.

With the project extended up to 2023, she said it is the responsibility of the community for the success of the project. She expressed hope that the project will cover all the recognized villages, with 700 villages being covered at present and requested the authorities to use the funds judiciously.

Sharing the journey of Nagaland Health Project (NHP), Deputy Director of NHP, Dr Thomas Keppen said that NHP was started in 2015 and recalled how it started off as Nagaland Multi Centre Health Project.
“In 2015, under Component – I, it was started in 19 Health Communities in Jalukie Block (Peren) and 13 Health Communities in Noklak (Tuensang) as pilot sites,” he explained.

According to him, when it first started, the project faced challenges in information dissemination, coordination within the department and among the departments, resistance from the committees and so on.
“It was officially launched on 1st June 2017, and was designed in such a way that it would strengthen the community and benefit all,” he added.

Imnasenla Shanbur Jamir, Consultant, World Bank, sharing on the Learning & Sustainability Plan of Nagaland Health Project, stated that in order to ensure that the changes and infrastructure improvements are sustained, it is imperative that all these changes are adopted at the State level as well.

She further added that with the help of a monitoring committee, the department and health facilities at all levels must actively play a pivotal role in ensuring that the assets created are utilized effectively and maintained properly.

“Sustaining critical activities such as biomedical waste management created through the project is crucial and the department must set up a Waste Management Committee which can organize periodic training for health workers and the public on waste management and segregation and disposal,” she said.

According to her, the immediate next goal should be in setting up a Nagaland Waste Treatment Plant. She pointed out how sustainable practices of rainwater harvesting and use of solar power in hospitals can ensure that these systems continue to work and improve over the course of years to come.

During the program, experiences were shared by representatives from Village Health Committee, Health Sub Centre Management Committee, Health Centre Management Committee, Hospital Management Committee, District Health Society, and District Program Management Unit.

The invocation was pronounced by Rev. Tiatoshi Longkumer, Pastor, Kohima Ao Baptist Arogo, and the welcome address was delivered by Principal Director, Health & Family Welfare, Dr. K. Vikato Kinimi. Closing remarks and vote of thanks were delivered by Additional Project Director, NHP, Dr. Lhouvizotuo Belho.