Chandigarh: Health Initiatives Give UT Some Glow

The Health department of Chandigarh has been working towards making the lives of its citizens much easier and hassle-free. While Chandigarh slipped in its overall SKOCH State of Governance ranking this year at number 25 from its 19th rank in 2017 and 12th in 2016, it salvaged its position with its 8th rank in Health sector and brought to the fore some very innovative and effective schemes.

SKOCH has shortlisted some of the Union Territory’s projects in the Health sector which the Group found promising and to look out for in the long-run.

In an innovative move to test the quality of food, the UT has introduced a mobile food lab unit with an aim to reach to the common man at their door step so that they can get their daily use food articles tested at very nominal charges. This step makes them aware about various types of adulteration in
food articles.

The Food Safety Administration of Chandigarh in the year 2016 developed a Mobile Food Testing lab by modifying one of the spare old ambulances. The laboratory, which was first in the country, was equipped with electronic milk testing and chemical testing kits for conducting on-the-spot test of the food samples at a very nominal charge of S20. The mobile van used to station at five different locations from Monday to Friday.

In another such initiative, the Health Department of Chandigarh has rolled out a project called “Kayakalp”. This project aims to upgrade the public health facilities as per the benchmarks so as to enhance the quality of public health services.

It’s a kayakalp in true sense of the public health facilities which has been undertaken towards total sanitation, hygiene and cleanliness. The aim of the project is to provide patients positive experience besides preventing the spread of infections and improve quality of service delivery.

Despite pulse polio being carried out as a National Initiative since 1995 in the country and with massive efforts being made, there have been huge roadblocks in taking this initiative further. Since the functionaries are often not able to cater to the nomads/rag pickers/beggars/Raine-basera who are not static and cannot be earmarked in the micro plans, this often leads to miss outs and the complete capturing of the eligible beneficiaries is not documented.

To cover all children, Chandigarh as an innovation and first of its kind in the country has conceived “TAARE ZAMEEN PAR”- A NIGHT VIGIL to provide the immunisation services at doorsteps of nomads of Chandigarh.
The out of the box idea has so far been implemented in the Union Territory of Chandigarh.

This is definitely a laudable step taken by the Health department.

Chandigarh economy is growing at a fast pace and being Union Territory, it is at natural advantage of being the capital city of two states, i.e., Punjab and Haryana. However, the governance now needs to percolate the same zeal and innovation to other sectors too for an all-inclusive growth.