HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, April 8: On the occasion of World Health Day, the Department of Health & Family Welfare and National Health Mission, Assam organised the award distribution ceremony for NQAS, LaQshya and Kayakalp for quality assurance in the health institutions in the State at Assam Administrative Staff College, Khanapara on Thursday.
The event was graced by Keshab Mahanta, Health minister Assam, Avinash Joshi, principal secretary Health & Family Welfare, Dr. Siddharth Singh, commissioner & secretary, Health & Family Welfare, Dr. Lakshmanan S, mission director NHM Assam, Pomi Baruah, deputy secretary – Health & OSD, NHM Assam, joint directors of health services of districts, state officials of NHM Assam and others.
Keshab Mahanta also launched the quarterly health magazine ‘Swasthya Dapoon’ on the occasion.
The Kayakalp initiative was launched by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare on May 15, 2015 to promote cleanliness, hygiene and infection control practices in public healthcare facilities, through incentivising and recognising such public healthcare facilities. This initiative has encouraged the public healthcare facilities in the State to achieve and maintain the standards of excellence. It has also motivated the government hospitals to promote physical cleanliness along with putting in place the proper systems and standard operating procedures including bio-waste disposal, protocols, infection control practices among others.
In the last FY 2020-21, 276 health institutions had achieved this award, whereas in FY 2021-22, this increased to 517. Also 142 nos of Health & Wellness Centers (Sub-centers) achieved this award.
In the HWC facility type of the Kayakalp Award of FY 2020-21, Hajipara HWC of Barpeta won the 1st prize with prize money of Rs 1 lakh.
In the CHC facility type, Chabukdhara CHC of Morigaon and Abhayapuri CHC of Bongaigaon won the 1st and 2nd prize respectively.
In the district hospital facility type, Sonapur district Hospital of Kamrup (M) and Kalgachia Civil Hospital of Barpeta won the 1st and 2nd prize respectively.
In the Kayakalp Award of FY 2021-22, Dhulijan HWC of Tinsukia won the 1st prize in the HWC facility type.
Hajo CHC of Kamrup (M) and Gauripur CHC of Dhubri won the 1st and 2nd prize respectively in the CHC facility type.
And in the district hospital facility type, Haflong District Hospital of Dima Hasao and S M Dev Civil Hospital of Cachar won the 1st and 2nd prize respectively.
In the LaQshya category, Udalguri Civil Hospital was awarded Rs 6 lakh.
In the NQAS category, Bhagyapur MPHC of Golaghat won Rs 3 lakh, Kathiatoli BPHC and Golakganj BPHC of Nagaon and Dhubri respectively won Rs 3 lakh each, and Mangaldai Civil Hospital of Darrang won a prize money of Rs 11 lakh.
The winning health facilities have been judged on the parameters of hospital upkeep, sanitation and hygiene, waste management, infection control, support services among others. These awards and recognition will motivate all the government health facilities to achieve milestones in quality service delivery.
