Bijay Charak
Early Times Report
Jammu, Sept 4: Just one-person runs the National Communicable Diseases (NCD) cell Doda, defeating the very purpose for which it was set up.
The cell was established in 2012 by the Health Department for providing preventive, curative and supportive services up to Sub Health Centre.
But the department has failed to provide adequate staff according to the operational guidelines.
According to the norms, a district NCD cell should be supported by contractual staff including a District Programme Officer, a Programme Assistant, a Finance-cum-Logistics Officer and a Data Entry Operator. In the NCD Doda, however, only one staff member runs the show, sources told Early Times.
They said the NCD Cell is responsible for overall planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of different activities and achievement of physical and financial targets planned under the programme in the district.
Sources said the cell was functioning under the guidance of District programme Officer (DPO NCD) and was supposed to be supported by the identified officers/officials from the district health system.
Criticizing the Health Department, sources said the responsibility of Director Health Services Jammu is to identify the district level health posts. But the department has failed to identify and fill up the posts.
Sources said the responsibilities of DPO also included preparing district action plan for implementation of NPCDCS strategies, maintaining and updating district database of NCD diseases including cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and stroke.
"DPO has also to conduct sub-district/CHC level trainings for capacity building, engage contractual personnel, sanctioned for various facilities in the district, maintain fund flow and submit utilization certificates, maintain district level data on physical, financial, epidemiological progress, convergence with NRHM activities," sources said.
"How it is possible that a single staff member can handle such responsibilities," asked sources.
When contacted, Director Health Services Jammu BS Pathania said that as per work the existing staff of NCD cell Doda was sufficient. |
