P Paiwang Konyak flagging off the launch of Mobile Medical Unit for Zunheboto district in Kohima on November 13. (Morung Photo)
Our Correspondent
Kohima | November 14
Nagaland Health & Family Welfare Minister P Paiwang Konyak today flagged off the launch of Mobile Medical Unit (MMU) for Zunheboto district at a function held at Directorate of Health & Family Welfare, Kohima.
This MMU is supported by TATA AIG General Insurance Company Ltd and Swasti under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative and The Entrepreneurs Associates (tEA) as implementing agency.
“As envisaged by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, this initiative represents a collective resolve to bridge the healthcare gap and ensure that quality medical services reach every citizen, regardless of where they reside, especially those people living in most remote, difficult, under-served and unreached areas,” the minister said while flagging off the MMU.
Stating that the MMU is not just a vehicle, Paiwang said “It is a beacon of hope for communities who have long awaited essential healthcare services, aimed: to provide quality reproductive and child health services including laboratory services, to plan and implement holistic health care strategy covering key areas of the primary health care component, promote village health sanitation and prevention of communicable and non communicable disease and to promote health literacy through health education.”
He said that Government of India through National Health Mission is providing human resource, vehicle for transportation, drug and diagnostic and funds for the mobility support.
“These mobile units will alleviate the need for long and arduous journeys to the nearest hospital, reducing delays in treatment and preventing the escalation of minor health issues into major medical concerns,” he said.
For Nagaland, this programme was started in December 2007 where 11 Mobile Medical Unit were launched in 11 districts and is fully functional in 11 districts covering the newly upgraded districts.
In the meantime, the department is also proposing to the central government for provision of fully functional Mobile Medical Unit services for the new six districts.
The minister was optimistic that this project will serve as a step forward in reducing disparities in healthcare access, “serve our population with dignity, focusing on preventive healthcare as much as curative solutions.”
Thanking TATA AIG General Insurance Company Ltd and Swasti for their generous sponsorship of the MMU, he said “Your support has provided critical resources that enable us to reach people who lack access to healthcare.”
“With this launch programme, let us reaffirm our commitment to a healthier, stronger and more inclusive India. Together, we are taking a significant step towards an equitable healthcare system that truly leaves no one behind,” the minister added.
‘MMU-vital component of healthcare delivery’
Dr. Akuo Sorhie, Mission Director, National Health Mission (NHM), Nagaland thanked Tata AIG General Insurance Company Ltd. for their generous funding & unwavering commitment to healthcare through their CSR initiative.
She said that the launching of MMU for Zunheboto is a significant initiative by TATA AIG, aimed at enhancing healthcare accessibility in our region.
Dr. Sorhie said that Nagaland’s Health & Family Welfare department under leadership of minister P. Paiwang Konyak is committed to providing affordable, accessible &quality health services to all its citizens.
Stating that the NHM has a mandate to reach out to everyone, particularly the vulnerable & marginalized population in the rural areas, she said “Therefore, the basic objective of MMU is to provide a range of preventive, promotive, curative services & also enable referrals.”
She said that MMU in Nagaland had been an important initiative to enhance primary healthcare access, particularly in remote, hard to reach & underserved areas by providing essential healthcare services to the communities that are difficult to reach due to geographical barriers & inadequate infrastructure.
She maintained that MMUs offers a range of benefits to healthcare delivery services in Nagaland, particularly in addressing the unique challenges posed by the state's geography & population distribution.
She highlighted some of the key benefits of MMUs in Nagaland healthcare system', which included; increased access to healthcare by reaching out to remote villages & communities, providing essential healthcare services where traditional healthcare facilities are lacking or is too far away.
She said that MMUs provides timely medical attention or immediate care for minor emergencies, such as injuries or acute illnesses, reducing the need for patients to wait for long periods before receiving treatment.
MMUs also act as Rapid Response unit & quickly mobilize to provide necessary medical interventions and support to the patients.
MMU is a vital component of the healthcare delivery system in Nagaland, addressing barriers to access to primary healthcare, improving health outcomes, & fostering community engagement in health, & has definitely contributed to better health indicators in areas they serves. Hence, the MMUs in Nagaland represent a vital strategy in addressing healthcare disparities in remote regions, she said.
Madhukar Sinha, president, Govt & Rural Business, TATA AIG General Insurance Company Ltd, Devang Pandya, Deputy Vice President & Lead CSR & Sustainability, TATA General Insurance Company Ltd and H.S. Viswanath, Director, Swasti also addressed the function.
A brief presentation on Swasti MMU & SP intervention in Nagaland was made by N. Rambabu, lead- partnership Swasti.
The programme was chaired by Dr E Motsuthung Patton, Principal Director, H&FW while welcome address was delivered by H& FW additional secretary S. Tainiu.
