Minister of Health and Family Welfare P. Paiwang Konyak launched the Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) India Partner Launch Training today here at Hotel Vivor in Kohima.
Addressing the gathering, the Minister asserted that the ECHO India initiative marks a significant milestone in our collective effort to bridge the gap in healthcare delivery and ensure that quality care reaches every corner of our state.
He remarked it as an innovative model being introduced in the state and said it is not just launching a program but we are igniting a movement, a movement that will transform the healthcare landscape in the state, making specialized knowledge accessible to all healthcare providers, irrespective of their geographical location.
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Konyak said the priority of the State Government has always been to provide comprehensive health infrastructure to all the citizens of the state and the government’s proactive approach is to ensure healthcare that is accessible, affordable and available to all at the right time and in the right place. To this, he said one of the key initiatives in this endeavour is the Chief Minister Health Insurance Scheme (CMHIS), designed specifically for the people of Nagaland.
“This scheme launched in collaboration with the Central Government’s Ayushman Bharat scheme is a significant step toward achieving Nagaland’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goal, which was launched in August 2021,” he said adding that, this goal strives to guarantee that all citizens of Nagaland have access to fair, economical, and high-quality medical care by 2030.
Konyak also informed that the Department of Health & Family Welfare is contemplating to introduce more services under the Chief Minister’s Health Insurance Scheme in the days to come and expressed hope that this will achieve the intent of comprehensive healthcare infrastructure in the state.
Stating Nagaland as a community-driven society, Konyak believes that by involving community and imparting training will empower primary care clinicians in rural and underserved areas with the knowledge and support they need to provide expert-level care.
“This standard of knowledge ensures that every patient, regardless of where they live, can receive the highest standard of care. It is about equity, empowerment and excellence in healthcare,” he added.
Further, he lauded ECHO India partners, supporters for their commitment, passion for improving healthcare in the country and for coming forward to impart training to the healthcare professionals in the state.
He also urged all healthcare providers to embrace this opportunity, participate actively in the ECHO sessions and become a part of this transformative movement.
NHM Nagaland and ECHO India organized a Partner Launch Training on 4th July, 2024 to strengthen Nagaland’s health system through capacity building. The event was attended by the Honourable Health Minister, Shri P. Paiwang Konyak pic.twitter.com/KWz7v3mGxP
— Health & Wellness Center, Nagaland (@NNagaland) July 4, 2024
ECHO India, a not-for-profit organisation revolutionising capacity building of healthcare workforce across the country. The event marks a significant milestone in the state’s healthcare journey, aiming to enhance the capacity and skills of healthcare professionals across Nagaland.
The two-day Partner Launch Training will introduce district health officials to the ECHO Model, emphasizing capacity building to strengthen healthcare systems. Participants learned how to use the model to engage in discussions and deliberations with specialists nationwide, identifying practical solutions to healthcare challenges and promoting best practices.
In Nagaland, ECHO India has established three telementoring hubs and collaborated with the state’s National Health Mission (NHM), State Tuberculosis Cell (STC) in Kohima, and the Nagaland Nursing Council. These partnerships aim to enhance the capabilities of healthcare workers in both primary and tertiary care centers. The ongoing collaborations encompass several focus areas, including tuberculosis management, COVID-19 vaccination advocacy, mentoring nursing staff for improved patient care, and training school teachers on tobacco laws and policies.
