As part of the celebration of “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav”, a Block Level Health Mela under the National Health Mission, Meghalaya was organized by the Office of the District Medical and Health Officer, East Jaintia Hills District, Khliehriat at Pamra Paithlu PHC under Wapung C&RD Block on Monday.
The main objectives of the health mela is to create awareness about different health programmes with focus on Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs), to facilitate the creation of Unique Health ID under ABDM for attendees, to facilitate the provision of Ayushman Bharat Card under AB-PM-JAY, to increase health awareness of the population for the prevention of various communicable and non-communicable diseases, to motivate the masses through various IEC activities and materials in order to help them to adopt wellness behaviour to stay healthy, provide screening for early diagnosis, basic health care services with drugs and diagnostic, teleconsultation with relevant health specialists and referrals as needed.
A total of 380 beneficiaries underwent checkups and treatment during the day-long programme, 204 numbers of Digital/ Unique Health ID created, Ayushman cards were issued to 3 beneficiaries and 24 beneficiaries were administered with the Covid-19 vaccine. A group discussion and awareness was also given to school students on healthy diet and nutrition, teenage pregnancy, substance abuse, peer pressure and the importance of education.
Addressing the gathering, the District Medical and Health Officer, East Jaintia Hills District, Dr. Dominic Shylla, said that the health mela will serve as a platform to provide free health check-ups and screening for the general public while also stating that the event will help in informing the public on the programmes carried out by various departments of the district at the block level. He urged the gathering to make the most of the health mela by visiting all the stalls put up by different departments and to avail the health care services which are available at the event.
P Lywait, PHN, NHM, East Jaintia Hills District, Khliehriat highlighted the key services that will be provided in the health mela which include, reproductive and child health, maternal and child health, family planning, IEC- Family welfare, NCD related on Yoga, meditation and lifestyle counselling, tobacco and alcohol cessation, cancer prevention awareness, communicable diseases related on personal and environmental hygiene, leprosy control, TB control and malaria.
Other services that will also be provided during the health camp include digital health ID creation- ABDM, Ayushman Bharat card issuance, general health check-up with specialists, provision of Ayush, awareness programmes and exhibition displaying all services, screening of Eye, ENT screening and Dental consultation.
The Health Mela saw huge participation of men, women, children, school students and teachers. Stalls were set up for registration of beneficiaries, NCD and TB Screening, Covid Vaccination, Counseling, Wellness Clinical Care, laboratory, Eye Screening by Nethralaya, drug dispensing counter, MHIS & PM-JAY and IEC. The other departments that also participated in the Mela were the Office of the District Agriculture Officer and District Horticulture Officer, Social Welfare Department, ICDS and the Food Safety Officer, East Jaintia Hills District, Khliehriat.