Other Programs
Hearing loss is the most common sensory deficit in humans today. World over, it is the second leading cause for ‘Years lived with Disability (YLD)’ the first being depression. There is a large number of hearing impaired young people in India which amounts to a severe loss of productivity, both physical and economic. An even larger percentage of our population suffers from milder degrees of hearing loss and unilateral (one sided) hearing loss against the above background.
Objectives
- To prevent the avoidable hearing loss on account of disease or injury.
- Early identification, diagnosis and treatment of ear problems responsible for hearing loss and deafness.
- To medically rehabilitate persons of all age groups, suffering from deafness.
- To strengthen the existing inter-sectoral linkages for continuity of the rehabilitation program, for persons with deafness.
- To develop institutional capacity for ear care services by providing support for equipment and material and training personnel.
Components
- Under this audiometric rooms have been established and operation theaters have been strengthened in 9 districts.
- Audiometric assistants will be required soon for these audiometric rooms.
- Regular screening camps are being organized in all the districts of the state in collaboration with the health department and composite regional centre for PWD’S, Sundernagar Mandi, (MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE & EMPOWERMENT, GOVT. OF INDIA)
- 304 Hearing aids were provided to the needy in the year 2017-18
The National Programme for the Health Care for the Elderly (NPHCE) is an articulation of the International and national commitments of the Government as envisaged under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), National Policy on Older Persons (NPOP) adopted by the Government of India in 1999.
Vision
- To provide accessible, affordable, and high-quality long-term, comprehensive and dedicated care services to an Ageing population.
- Creating a new “architecture” for Ageing.
- To build a framework to create an enabling environment for “a Society for all Ages”.
- To promote the concept of Active and Healthy Ageing.
Specific Objectives
- To provide easy access to promotional, preventive, curative and rehabilitative services to the elderly through community based primary health care approach.
- To identify health problems in the elderly and provide appropriate health interventions in the community with strong referral backup support.
- To build the capacity of the medical and paramedical professionals as well as the care-takers within the family for providing health care to the elderly.
- To provide referral services to elderly patients through district hospitals, regional medical institutions.
- Convergence with National Rural Health Mission, AYUSH and other line departments like Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
Components
- Under the program, separate geriatric wards were to be established.
- Weekly OPD’S were to be started.
- Some basic physiotherapy articles were to be provided in sub centers, PHC’s, and CH /CHC’s.
- Free tests are being provided to the patients of diabetes & HNT under NCD clinics.
- Different color OPD slips are being provided to the elderly population and they are given priority in OPD’s and in laboratories.
- Physiotherapy Units are already giving services to the elderly population in all the district hospital except Lahaul & Spiti.
- Physiotherapists are available in all the districts hospital.
District Coverage Status
- Launched in Chamba Distt.in 2010.
- Kinnaur and Lahaul & Spiti Distt. were included in 2011.
- All the remaining districts covered in 2015.
- 33 basic physiotherapy units have been established during the financial year (2015-16).
- 27 in civil hospitals.
- 3 in old age homes.
- 1 in a daycare center.
- New innovation –2 gram panchayats were included for these units.
Multi-specialty camps for interior rural areas are arranged where eye surgeons, gynecologists, skin specialists, pediatricians, dental surgeons, family physicians and optometric surgeons participate and provide their services at no cost.
Components
- MSS Camps are being organized in various difficult and tribal areas of the state where specialists are not available since 2007-08.
- Expression of interest (EOI) is invited from various Private Health Institutions /Hospitals /Organizations /RKS and NGO’s.
- After evaluation of EOI the camps are allotted on the recommendation of respective chief medical officers. Any change of location or allotment of new camp is also done due to local/field reasons.
- MSS camps are held in health institutions where the facility of operation theatre is available in Civil Hospital /Community Health Centres.
- At times screening is done in PHC’S but operations are done only in nearby Civil Hospital /Community Health Centres.
Health and family welfare department provides the following assistance:
- Physical facilities: OPD, OT, Labour room, wards beds & labs etc. (Infrastructure).
- Diagnostics: routine and biochemical tests, ultra-sonography & X-rays etc.
The National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) as submission of National Health Mission (NHM) has been approved by the Cabinet on 1st May 2013.
NUHM envisages to meet health care needs of the urban population with the focus on urban poor, by making available to them essential primary health care services and reducing their out of pocket expenses for treatment.
An Overview and Current Status
- Was Launched in 2013.
- Three cities /towns were included based on the population.
- Shimla, Dharamshala and Solan (BBN).
- Mainly for urban poor, slum/high-risk population.
Under this strengthening has been done:
- The urban health center, Boileauganj.
- MC Lab Shimla.
- ESI Hospital Parwanoo.
New PHC’s constructed, strengthened and made functional:
- Totu
- Annadale
Minor civil workers completed and will be strengthened by installing blood analyzer.
- PHC Sanjouli
New construction and strengthening will be done for:-
- PHC New Shimla
- PHC – Khaniara – To be strengthened
- PHC – Dari – To be strengthened
Status
- 17 ANM’S Engaged in collaboration with various NGO’S.
- 5 in Shimla, 9 in Solan and 3 in Dharamshala.
- Urban ASHA’S (31 recruited out of 34 approved).
- 10 Mahila Arogya Samities Established (5 in Dharamshala & 5 in Solan).
- 30 New Mahila Arogya Samities will be established in new MC wards.