Minister for Health and Family Welfare, P. Paiwang Konyak flagged-off the Mobile Medical Unit for Zunheboto district on 14th November 2024 at the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare, Kohima.
Speaking at the launching program P. Paiwang Konyak said 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.
Paiwang mentioned that Mobile Medical Unit is not just a vehicle but 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.
He highlighted 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, the Advisor stated.
Further, he highlighted that 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 expressed his confidence that this project will serve as a step forward in reducing disparities in healthcare access, serve our population with dignity, focusing on preventive healthcare.
On behalf of the Government of Nagaland, Paiwang extend his deepest gratitude to TATA AIG General Insurance Company Ltd, and Swasti for the generous sponsorship of the Mobile Medical Unit, and said your support has provided critical resources that enable us to reach people who lack access to healthcare.
He advised CMO team of Zunheboto to ensure utmost care and maintenance of the Mobile Medical Unit to sustain its condition and service readiness. Paiwang asserted that with the launching of the MMU 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 stone unturned, he added.
Mission Director, NHM, Dr. Akuo Sorhie highlighted the overview of MMU. She stated that the Nagaland HFW, under the dynamic leadership of the Minister is committed to providing affordable, accessible and quality health services to all its Citizens. She said the NHM has a mandate to reach out to everyone, particularly the vulnerable & Marginalized population in the rural areas. Therefore, the basic objective of MMU is to provide a range of preventive, promotive, curative services and also enable referrals, she added.
Dr Sorhie highlighted that the Ministry has directed all States to make the MMU functional by this year end and added that getting a new one is a big boost to healthcare in the State. She said MMU in Nagaland had been an important initiative to enhance primary healthcare access, particularly in remote, hard to reach and underserved areas by providing essential healthcare services to the communities that are difficult to reach due to geographical barriers and inadequate infrastructure.
The Mission Director stated that the functions of MMUs often include health education as part of their services, raising awareness about hygiene, nutrition, disease prevention and healthy practices. It also provides support services to vulnerable populations and play a critical role in providing antenatal and postnatal care, vaccinations for children and family planning services, thereby improving maternal and child health indicators in underserved areas, she added. MMUs helps in lowering overall healthcare costs for communities by preventing severe health issues through early intervention & reducing the need for hospital visits.
The launching of this MMU therefore symbolizes hope, resilience and the promise of a healthier future for the people of Zunheboto District in particular and Nagaland in general, Dr Sorhie stated.
The Principal Director Health and Family Dr, E Motsuthung Patton chaired the launching programme, while welcome address was delivered by Additional Secretary H/ W S. Tainiu.
Short speech on AIG TATA Insurance Company Ltd. was delivered by Madhukar Sinha, a brief report on TATA AIG and Swasti by Deputy Vice President & Lead CSR TATA insurance company Ltd. Devang Pandya, and a brief presentation on Swasti MMU & SP intervention in Nagaland by Lead Partnerships Swasti N. Rambabu.
