A two-day Partner Launch Training for senior health officials of the state organised by ECHO India, in partnership with National Health Mission (NHM), Nagaland, commenced in Kohima today.
The training is aimed to apprise the state’s health officials about effectively implementing ECHO’s ‘All Teach All Learn’ model of capacity building to further strengthen the state’s health system.
ECHO India is a non-profit organisation revolutionising capacity building of healthcare workforce across the country.
In Nagaland, ECHO India has already established two telementoring hubs and has partnered with the state’s National Health Mission (NHM), State Tuberculosis Cell (STC) Kohima, and the Nagaland Nursing Council, with an aim to build the capacities of healthcare workers in primary and tertiary care centres.
The ongoing partnerships span various focus areas, such as tuberculosis, COVID-19 vaccination advocacy, and mentoring nursing staff for better patient-care.
The Partner Launch Training was inaugurated by the Chief Guest Kikheto Sema, IAS, Commissioner & Secretary, Health & Family Welfare, Government of Nagaland.
Other key dignitaries present at the Partner Launch Training included Dr Ritu Thurr, Mission Director, NHM; Dr Mereninla Senlem, NHM State Program Officer; and Dr G Razoukhrielie Rio, Universal Immunization Program, Deputy Director NHM.
In his address, Kikheto Sema, IAS, Commissioner & Secretary, Health & Family Welfare said: “Nagaland’s Department of Health & Family Welfare is committed to provide equitable, affordable, and speedy healthcare access to all residents of the state. It is crucial to give all cadres of healthcare workforce – doctors, nurses as well as community health workers like ASHAs – opportunities to upskill and enhance their medical knowledge.”
“Technology certainly serves as an enabler in disseminating medical knowledge by allowing easy access to information as well as by eliminating geographic barriers. This will ensure that the health system becomes resilient and responsive to effectively deal with all existing and emerging medical challenges,” Sema added.
Dr Ritu Thurr, MD, NHM Nagaland said: “I strongly believe that Nagaland’s healthcare system and its delivery mechanism will benefit by adopting use of technology for knowledge dissemination. Use of digital healthcare services and capacity building programs have become the need of the hour, especially in the wake of challenges thrown at us by the COVID-19 pandemic. We have been leveraging the ECHO Model of capacity building in the state and we find it very effective as it offers healthcare professionals easier, more efficient access to information, opportunities for continuous learning, the ability to give and receive feedback and greater motivation to learn and engage.”
In collaboration with NHM Nagaland (@NagalandNhm), ECHO India commenced its two-day Partner Launch Training for senior health officials today. pic.twitter.com/b9AhwC6NSz
— ECHO India (@ECHOIndiaTrust) January 17, 2023
Talking about ECHO’s work in Nagaland, Dr Sandeep Bhalla, Associate Vice President of Projects at ECHO India, said: “We are very proud of our partnership with NHM Nagaland, which is aimed at strengthening the state’s health system. Our other healthcare partners in the state include the State TB Cell (STC) and the Nagaland Nursing Council, which is a unique example where ECHO India contributed for building capacity of frontline COVID warriors to fight the pandemic through its Vaccination Confidence and Advocacy Program (VCAP).”
