Acute shortage of docs in PHCs: Governor

STATE MARKS WORLD BLOOD DONOR DAY
Nagaland Governor Dr. Ashwani Kumar Saturday said there was a shortfall of over 100 doctors in the state and this has resulted in the acute shortage of doctors in the Primary Health Centres (PHCs) across the state. The governor was addressing a gathering on the occasion of World Blood Donor day held at State Academy Hall, Kohima with the theme “safe blood for saving mothers.”
He said more than 400 trained health workers and assistants were required to provide minimum health care services in the 486 health sub-centres in the state.
Dr. Ashwani Kumar, however exuded confidence that with the establishment of the state first medical college in Kohima and the North East Para Medical Institute (NEPMI), the issue of shortfall of doctors and health workers in PHCs would be addressed.
The governor also asked the doctors to assume that they were already a part of the medical college and said when the two institutions became full-fledged; health issues in the state would gradually disappear.
On the occasion, Dr. Ashwani also congratulated the participants/donors for the initiatives taken.
The governor said that voluntary donation of blood was one of the greatest noble deeds and no words could describe the sacrifices of people who donated blood without any expectation of returns.
Delivering his address, VBDAK executive convener Dr. Nyan said the theme ‘safe blood for saving mothers’ was chosen as every day about 800 women die from pregnancy or child birth-related complication. Severe bleeding during delivery and postnatal period was a major cause of mortality, morbidity and long-term disability.
Dr. Nyan pointed out that the goal of the blood donation campaign was to create awareness that timely access to safe blood was essential for all countries as part of the comprehensive approach to prevent maternal deaths.
Through NRHM, Dr. Nyan appealed the government of India to provide incentives for pregnant mothers for institutional deliveries like JSY and JSSK.
During the function, an essay competition was also held for college and school students. For the college students the theme was ‘safe blood for saving mothers’ and for high school and higher secondary school students, the theme was ‘donate blood, save a life.’ Over 30 blood donors donated blood after the formal function was over.