Kohima, 19 April (MTNews): Dr Madhulika Jonathan, Chief Field Office, UNICEF for Assam and North East said that Nagaland needs to streamline the existing blood bank services and improve antenatal care coverage, institutional delivery, and full immunization coverage for every child to survive and thrive.
The UNICEF Chief Field Officer said this during a consultative meeting with the Department’s Officials at the IDSP Conference Hall of DoHFW, Kohima on Wednesday. During the meeting, Dr Jonathan also congratulated the effort of the state during the COVID-19 pandemic and for the sustained low infant mortality rate.
UNICEF, according to Commissioner & Secretary, Health & Family Welfare, Y Kikheto Sema, IAS, has constantly supported the state in the area of RMNCH+ A (Reproductive Maternal Newborn Child and Adolescent Health). Therefore, the State and UNICEF further agreed to collaborate in the area RMNCH+A through capacity building, technical support, supportive mentoring visits and other areas of support as feasible.
The Commissioner also stressed on the need of revamping the communitisation of health facilities, awareness generation through involvement of churches and faith leaders for which UNICEF shall also be extending support.
He further called for continued collaboration between UNICEF and development partners especially in the area of maternal, newborn and child health to ensure that no one is left behind. He mentioned that UNICEF and State partnership shall further be strengthened through the meeting.
Further, the commissioner also thanked the organization for supplying essential medical logistics on time especially during the COVID-19 pandemic and also for supporting the Aspirational District along with technical support.
The commissioner while admitting that awareness needs to be created in the minds of the people to donate blood for the needy people conveyed his appreciation to all the blood donors, particularly the Armed Forces, for donating blood voluntarily.
The UNICEF team also visited health facilities and interacted with the health care workers.
