Dr Harsh Vardhan felicitates health institutions of Assam for cleanliness

Guwahati: In a major morale boost towards “The Journey of Quality” Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Dr Harsh Vardhan felicitated and conferred the National Kayakalp Award and certificate to three Health Facilities of Assam for Cleanliness and Hygiene promotion under Quality Care in a major event held at India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road in New Delhi recently, stated a press release.

The three health facilities felicitated are S.M. Dev Civil Hospital, Cachar district (prize money of Rs 50 lakhs), Sonapur District Hospital (prize money 20 lakhs), Kamrup Metro District and Jonai CHC (prize money 15 lakhs), Dhemaji district along with State Quality Team.

It is mentionable here that a total of 166 facilities received “Kayakalp” award in 2018-19 compared to 47 health facilities in 2017-18 in the State of Assam, a significant fourfold increase.

The occasion was graced by Union Minister of State, Health and Family Welfare, Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Preeti Sudan, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Manoj Jhalani, IAS Additional Secretary and Mission Director, National Health Mission, Dr Manohar Agnani, IAS, Joint Secretary Policy, National Health Mission and Dr J. N. Srivastava, Quality Improvement Advisor, NHSRC.

SM Dev Civil Hospital, Cachar received the first prize in the category of District Hospital in Assam to be awarded this prestigious recognition. The health facility scored 87% in the Kayakalp Assessment. Similarly Sonapur District Hospital, Kamrup Metro ranked second in the State with a score of 85%. Under the category of Community Health Centers, Jonai CHC, Dhemaji has won the first prize in the State scoring 86%.

The State was represented by Dr Ashutosh Barman, Superintendent, S.M.Dev Civil Hospital, Cachar, Dr Ulupi Phukan Baruah, Superintendent, Sonapur District Hospital, Kamrup Metro, Dr Gunada Lagachu, Deputy Superintendent, Jonai CHC, Dhemaji, Dr Rohini Kumar, State Consultant-Quality Assurance and Ms. Kakali Deka, State Programme Executive-Quality Assurance who have paved the way for beginning the quality journey in public health care facilities in the State.

Former Union Health and Family Welfare Minister J P Nadda had launched the ‘Kayakalp Award Scheme’ on May 15, 2015 as an extension of ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’. The aim of this initiative is to improve and promote the cleanliness, hygiene, waste management and infection control practices in public health care facilities and incentivize the exemplary performing facilities.

Infection Control is one of the most important themes under the ‘Kayakalp’ Scheme. Clean and hygienic environment in the health facility not only leads to a better perception of the visitors towards the facility but also enables the facility to have an environment which reduces the Hospital Acquired Infection (HAI) and surgical site infection.

Creating value in public health care in Assam through National Quality Assurance Standard is the most important aspect of services being rendered at any health facility. High-quality health systems optimise health care in each given context by consistently delivering care that improves and maintains health, by being valued and trusted by people, and thereby by responding to changing population needs. It is important that the public health care facilities are benchmarked against set quality standards so as to improve the confidence of the public availing the services while also boosting the morale of the public health service providers in these institutions

The state of Assam not only took the first towards the “Journey of Quality” step but has now walked miles in achieving quality in health institutions through strategic planning and creative execution by our dedicated teams who have put citizens’ health first.

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