Secretary H&FW stresses urgency and reviews local health facilities in Pampore

PAMPORE: Secretary of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India Apurva Chandra on Friday urged expedited progress on the construction of AIIMS Awantipora to enhance medical care in Kashmir.
Accompanied by Health Secretary and Medical Education Syed Dr. Abid Rashid Shah, Director of Health Services Kashmir Mushtaq Ahmed Rather, District Development Commissioner Pulwama Dr. Basharat Qayoom, and SSP Awantipora Ajaz Ahmad Zargar, the Secretary visited the under-construction AIIMS site to review the ongoing progress.
Secretary Health Chandra stressed the urgency of accelerating the construction to ensure that high-quality medical facilities are available to the people of Kashmir, particularly those in South Kashmir, thus reducing the need for seeking medical treatment outside the state. He highlighted the significant improvement in healthcare accessibility that the AIIMS will bring upon its completion.
During the comprehensive meeting that followed, officers presented a detailed briefing on the range of facilities the upcoming AIIMS will offer.
The Secretary also visited the Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Pampore and Primary Health Center (PHC) Wuyan to evaluate their physical care facilities. He engaged directly with medical and para-medical staff, addressing their concerns and listening to their demands. Chief Medical Officer Pulwama Dr. Tehmina, District Health Officer Pulwama Dr. Javaid Ahmad Butt, BMO Pampore Dr. Asima Nazir, and other doctors welcomed the officials.
Promising proactive measures, the Secretary assured that efforts would be made to meet all the requirements voiced by the healthcare professionals. Along with other officials, the Secretary inspected various health centers and wards in SDH Pampore and PHC Wuyan, discussing the available health facilities with patients.
Expressing satisfaction with the operational standards of these health centers, the Secretary emphasized the importance of continuous efforts to improve healthcare delivery at the grassroots level. He praised the cleanliness and efficiency of the facilities and staff, noting that such health centers are exemplary in India.
Speaking to Kashmir Reader at SDH Pampore, Secretary H&FW Apurva Chandra said, “Today we visited PHC Wuyan and Sub-District Hospital Pampore, and I was very pleased to see both health centers being so well-maintained. PHC Wuyan and Sub-District Hospital Pampore are exceptionally clean, and all the facilities there are commendable. I believe it would be hard to find better facilities at the PHC level anywhere else in India.”
He mentioned that the Sub-District Hospital Pampore handles an OPD of over 1,200 patients daily. He recounted speaking with a patient from Jammu who praised the care and facilities, noting that patients even come from Jammu for orthopedic treatments.
Regarding AIIMS Awantipora, Chandra noted that construction is ongoing with 2,200 laborers, aiming for completion by November next year. He expressed confidence in meeting this target, anticipating an increase in labor force and accelerated progress soon.

BILAL HABIB