Srinagar: Director General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Atul Goel Wednesday chaired the National Level Review and Planning Meeting on Amarnath Yatra here at SKICC in Srinagar which was also attended by health administrators and health experts from various states, institutions and organizations belonging to different parts of the country.
M.K Bandari Principal Secretary Governor UT of J&K was connected virtually. V.K Bhiduri Divisional commissioner Kashmir, Dr L. Swasticharan Add. DG family were also presnt in the meeting,while many officers including Secretary Health Bhupinder Kumar and Deputy CEO Amarnath shrine board attended meeting virtually.
Previously the meeting used to be held online and this is for the first time that such an impressive meeting was held for the preparation of upcoming yatra in physical mode in Srinagar.
Atul Goel said that the meeting discussed extended healthcare measures that are to be taken during the annual pilgrimage so that pilgrims are provided best healthcare services during the yatra period.
The meeting held discussions and deliberations on the different aspects of the annual pilgrimage and ways to make the journey of the yatris more comfortable.
While commending the role of health department Kashmir over the past several years Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri said the previous yatra has seen record number of pilgrims.
He said today’s meeting focused on two major aspects. Firstly, there was an emphasis on sensitizing and screening people with medical conditions to ensure they do not encounter any issues. Secondly, the discussion revolved around the importance of educating pilgrims about the location and prevailing conditions for their better understanding and preparedness.
He said that our aim is to collaborate with neighboring states and UTs to create a seamless Health care system for Yatra One of the important facets of this meeting will be to provide information to intending pilgrims so as they are fully prepared and aware about the difficulties and the challenges they may encounter during the yatra and accordingly prepare themselves.
“We urge each and every state and UT to properly inform, brief and guide the intending pilgrims about the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra and advise them to make all the necessary arrangements for successful Yatra.”
The Divisional Commissioner said this year the administration took feedback taris who had revealed that they were 100 percent satisfied with the healthcare facilities they were provided during their stay.
Secretary, Health and Medical Education Department (H&ME) Department, Bhupinder Kumar also joined the meeting virtually and expressed gratitude to Union Health Ministry for holding the meeting in Srinagar. He also said that the government aims to enhance the facilities for the yatris and make their journey comfortable.
He thanked various organizations like Health Ministry and other concerned stakeholders for their support during the yatra. He stressed for proper screening of pilgrims for various health ailments before embarking on this spiritual yatra.
Dr. L. Swasticharan, Additional Director General, Union Ministry of Health suggested for a coordinated mechanism between different UTs, Ministry of Health and Government of Jammu and Kashmir to upgrade the services for yatra.
He stressed for comprehensive media plan so that pilgrims are well informed about the difficulties and the high altitude and other challenges they face during the yatra.
Director Health Services Kashmir, Dr Mushtaq Ahmad Rather said this was the historical meeting. He also informed about the training programs that are conducted every year for the healthcare workers and for the yatris. “The meeting was aimed to discuss how yatris can embark on their journey safely,” he added.
“We aim at a comprehensive and well- coordinated approach by combining preventive measures ,strategic medical arrangements ,collaboration with neighboring states and UTs and other health organizations to ensure the spiritual journey not all remains sacred but also safe for the 1000s of devotees who under take this pilgrimage annually,” he said.
He said that there is a media plan to conduct information, education and communication activities besides online training modules and social media kit development jointly by DHS Kashmir and MOHFW.
He said that there will be a proper feedback mechanism that would be formed for improvement.
Spokesperson DHSK Dr Mir Mushtaq said that keeping in view various challenges in SANJY; in setting up temporary health facilities at locations that have no motorable roads, and lack accessibility to definitive medical care, we thought it was important that the States/UTs and the medical institutions from which the medical staff are posted are sensitized and well-oriented to these conditions.
Notably representatives of 12 states /UTs and central govt hospitals and prestigious institution like AIIMS, Jipmer, pgimer, Cghs and others were part of the meeting.
