A five-day orientation training for the eighth batch of Community Health Officers (CHOs) under the National Health Mission (NHM), Nagaland, commenced today at the SPMU Hall, Directorate of Health & Family Welfare, Kohima. A total of 19 CHOs were formally inducted into the state’s public health system.
Speaking at the inaugural programme, Dr. Avile Zao, Mission Director of NHM Nagaland, highlighted the Government of India’s vision to upgrade all Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Sub-Centres (SCs) into Health & Wellness Centres (HWCs) under the Ayushman Arogya Mandir (AAM) initiative. She noted that with the intervention of CHOs, Nagaland has witnessed significant improvements in healthcare delivery, especially in remote and underserved areas. Dr. Zao added that CHOs are now pivotal in managing frontline health services, particularly in the absence of Medical Officers.
Dr. Keveduyi Theyo, State Programme Officer (SPO-NHM), praised the dedication and rigorous preparation of the new inductees. He underlined the CHOs’ foundational role in bridging communities with essential healthcare services and emphasized the values of integrity, compassion, and ongoing learning. He also urged the CHOs to maintain professional conduct, proper documentation, and effective community engagement. “This induction is not just a start of service, but a commitment to strengthening healthcare in Nagaland,” he said.
With this latest induction, a total of 336 Sub-Centres across Nagaland have been upgraded into Health & Wellness Centres. The orientation programme will equip CHOs with essential knowledge and practical skills to serve as the first point of contact in these centres. Training modules include maternal and child health, screening and management of non-communicable and communicable diseases, adolescent and geriatric care, palliative support, ENT care, awareness on government health schemes, and the use of digital tools in service delivery.
With sessions led by domain experts across NHM, the program aims to strengthen primary healthcare services and enhance community-level interventions through well-prepared CHOs.
