Kohima, 21 May (MTNews): A three-day Training of Trainers for District Community Mobilisers (DCMs) and Block ASHA Coordinators (BACs) on Expanded Packages of Services under Comprehensive Primary Health Care (CPHC) at Ayushman Bharat-Health & Wellness Center (AB-HWC) began on May 21, 2024, at the Conference Hall, DUDA Guest House, Kohima.
Exhorting the participants, Dr. Akuo Sorhie, Mission Director of the National Health Mission, Nagaland, stated that the DCMs, BACs, and ASHAs are the forerunners in the program and play a vital role between the community and health care. She emphasized that the participants present are a team to be reckoned with. She also mentioned that with the paradigm shift towards universal health coverage, bringing health care to all and reaching the unreached population with a complete health package, the role of ASHAs, as key members of the primary health team in the Health & Wellness Center, has expanded significantly under the CPHC objectives.
Therefore, their roles and responsibilities have increased manyfold over the years, from link workers or social mobilisers to more significant roles under the CPHC, along with DCMs and BACs as their Coordinators.
Dr. Akuo also expressed hope that this training would further strengthen their knowledge in tackling the added assignments, enabling them to provide quality health care services with more confidence. She appealed to them to recommit to giving the highest priority to this flagship program and transform the Public Health Care Delivery System in the State.
Dr. Mereninla Senlem, State Program Officer of the National Health Mission, provided an overview of the Extended Health Packages under CPHC. She said that with the National Health Policy’s concept of Universal Health Coverage, it is all about delivering health care services at the doorstep of the people, with ASHAs playing an important role. The responsibility of DCMs and BACs is to motivate and facilitate them. She added that the shift in the disease trend from communicable to non-communicable diseases has shown that 80% of deaths and disease burden are now due to non-communicable diseases. She urged everyone to make the most of the three-day program in learning and clearing doubts.
Chairing the program, Dr. Manyau Phom, Deputy Director of NHM, Nagaland, stated that as Trainers of Trainers, they have the responsibility of further training more than 2000 ASHAs in the State. Unless they are properly trained, they will not be able to fulfill the targets set for the State. He emphasized the importance of comprehensive training for DCMs and BACs. He also highlighted that ASHAs are the closest to and part of the community, where all the health indicators are assessed by the Government. He mentioned the team-based incentives that include ASHAs. Dr. Manyau appealed to the DCMs and BACs present to ensure that all health indicators are improved in the State.
During the three days, the participants will be trained on the additional extended packages for Non-Communicable Diseases, Oral Health, ENT, Eye, Elderly Care, Palliative Care, Mental Health, and Emergency Care (Burns, Trauma, and Accidents).
