Guwahati, Jan 23: Assam’s National Health Mission (NHM) has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) to convert 354 tea garden hospitals into Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, a major initiative aimed at improving healthcare services for tea garden workers and their families. This move is set to address critical health issues in these areas, including anemia, malnutrition, and high maternal and neonatal mortality rates.
The MoUs were signed in a ceremony attended by Assam’s Health and Family Welfare Minister Ashok Singhal, alongside other key stakeholders. Minister Singhal pointed out the healthcare challenges faced by tea garden communities, which include high incidences of diseases like tuberculosis, leprosy, and diarrhoea, largely due to inadequate healthcare infrastructure.
The upgraded Ayushman Arogya Mandirs will offer a wide range of services, including maternal and neonatal care, child and adolescent health, family planning, as well as treatment for both infectious and non-communicable diseases. Mental health services, emergency care, elderly care, and free medicines and diagnostic services will also be provided. In addition, critical infrastructure upgrades such as labor rooms and neonatal emergency units will be implemented to improve healthcare delivery.
Minister Singhal also stressed the importance of preventive healthcare and wellness programs, including yoga, at these centers. He urged tea garden owners to prioritize the health of their workforce, noting that a healthier workforce is essential for the success of the tea industry.
This initiative is part of Assam’s ongoing efforts to enhance healthcare across the state, with nearly 5,000 health centers already upgraded to Ayushman Arogya Mandirs. The transformation of tea garden hospitals is expected to significantly improve healthcare access and outcomes for workers and their families, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of accessible and affordable healthcare for all.
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