Two-day CPHC training held at Kawlewada health centre, saplings planted on premises

Goregaon: A two-day skill-based Comprehensive Primary Health Care (CPHC) training was held at the primary health centre in Kawlewada through the Ayushman Arogya Mandir (Arogyavardhini Kendra), with the aim of giving people in villages and cities good health services close to home. The programme concluded with great enthusiasm.

The training is being given at every primary health centre in the district. It is being conducted under the guidance of District Surgeon Dr Purushottam Patle, District Health Officer Dr Abhijeet Golhar, Additional District Surgeon Dr Trupti Katre and Assistant District Health Officer Dr Arvindkumar Waghmare.

The main aim of the training is to place greater emphasis on preventive and promotive health services, so that diseases do not occur in the first place, rather than treating them after they set in. The session therefore focused on building the capacity and skills of doctors, nurses, community health officers, male and female health workers and ASHA workers.

Participants in the two-day session were trained in depth in 13 kinds of expanded health services for the overall health of people. These include care during pregnancy and childbirth, newborn and infant health services, child and adolescent health services, and family planning and reproductive health services. Management of communicable diseases such as TB, dengue and malaria, treatment of common and minor ailments, and screening and management of non-communicable diseases (diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer) were also part of it. Training is also being given in eye and ear-nose-throat services, primary oral (mouth and dental) health services, mental health services, elderly and palliative care, emergency medical services and burns and trauma care, and yoga and health promotion.

Guiding the health workers during the camp were Dr Rajesh Belmarkar, medical officer at the District Training Centre and District Maternal and Child Care Officer, paediatrician Dr Sachin Uikey, dental specialist Dr Anil Ate, Salekasa tehsil health officer Dr Amit Khodankar, and community health officers Dr Chandan Rangari and Dr Manisha Yede. Psychiatrist Deepak Agulwar, along with Kunda Kumbhare, Surajlal Donode, Vijay Meshram, Ranjana Rokde and Madhuri Tembhurnikar, also trained the staff in detail on different subjects. Dr Sneha Bhave, medical officer of the Kawlewada primary health centre, was also present.

The training was also linked to the environment, an idea that came from Dr Rajesh Belmarkar. The health department has decided that saplings will be planted at every primary health centre where CPHC training is held. Under this, saplings were planted with enthusiasm on the Kawlewada centre's premises during the training by the dignitaries present. The message of protecting the environment along with health inspired those present.

Community health officers, male and female health assistants, male and female health workers, group promoters and ASHA workers from the Kawlewada primary health centre area attended in large numbers and took part freely. The health administration expressed confidence that, with this training and the guidance of experts, rural health services in the Kawlewada area will become stronger, faster and closer to the people.