Itanagar, Feb 4: Health and Family Welfare Minister Biyuram Wahge on Tuesday emphasized the importance of broadening the scope of information, education, and communication (IEC) activities to create awareness on life-threatening diseases and good health practices across the State.
The Minister was addressing a gathering after inaugurating the Integrated Mega Multispecialty Health Camp and the 100-Day Intensified TB Elimination Campaign for Papum Pare district at the District Hospital campus in Doimukh on Tuesday. He also distributed food baskets to adopted TB patients on the occasion.
He highlighted key points such as organizing health camps in all districts to identify prevalent diseases and adopt strategic methods to combat them; raising awareness about cancer and maximizing the use of social media for health campaigns and prioritizing the availability and functionality of medical equipment.
Wahge also addressed the roles and responsibilities of doctors and nurses, underscoring their importance in delivering quality healthcare services.
Doimukh MLA Nabam Vivek expressed concerns about the District Hospital, which was notified long ago but is yet to become fully functional. He requested the Minister to provide all necessary assistance to expedite the hospital’s operational readiness.
Arunachal Pradesh State AIDS Control Society (APSACS) Project Director Dr Marbom Basar shared insights about the National AIDS Control Program (NACP) Phase 5, which is set to conclude in 2026. He highlighted the implementation of the Sampoorna Suraksha strategy, initiated in districts like Papum Pare, East Kameng, and Lower Dibang Valley as part of the first phase. This comprehensive strategy includes counselling, testing, care, and linkages to antiretroviral therapy (ART) for targeted groups.
Dr Basar stressed the importance of adopting socially acceptable behaviour and noted that the prevention of HIV relies heavily on behavioural changes. He further mentioned a surge in HIV cases across Arunachal Pradesh during 2022-23 and emphasized that stigmatization remains a significant barrier in society.
WHO Consultant Nidhi Sumnyan spoke about the 100 Days Intensified TB Campaign, focusing on eradicating tuberculosis through targeted efforts.
Health Services Director Dr Riken Rina provided additional insights during the event, supporting the initiatives aimed at strengthening the state’s healthcare system.
A total of 230 patients benefited from the camp, which provided specialized services in Medicine, Surgery, Gynaecology, Orthopaedics, Chest, Eye, ENT, Paediatrics, Dermatology, and AYUSH. Screenings for NCD, TB, HIV, and Hepatitis were also conducted.
Among others, Papum Pare DC Jiken Bomjen, DMO Dr Reena Ronya, Doimukh SDO Kipa Raja and HoDs attended the event. (DIPRO)