By our correspondent
Agartala, May 09, 2019: Even as ASHA workers play crucial roles in providing health related services in rural and remote areas in Tripura, the State Health Department in Khowai failed to conduct Refresher Training Course scheduled to be completed during last financial year for these health workers.
Local sources said, total Rs 8 lakh 20 thousand 9 hundred 92 was sanctioned during 2018-19 FY for Training courses to be completed in 12 phases – each one for 5 days. The fund was sanctioned under NHM for training of 136 ASHA workers under Khowai district, however, no training programme was conducted by concerned department.
Shockingly, no one – including CMO and in-charge of NHM – could give any clue about starting of refresher training courses in the district.
According CMO sources, total 771 ASHA workers are engaged in catering health delivery services in Khowai out of which 396 ASHA workers did not receive any refresher trainings. “Of these 396 ASHA workers, 143 ASHA workers under Teliamura Hospital, 136 under Khowai District Hospital and 117 ASHA workers are working under several Primary Health Care centers in the district are working without any Refresher Training Course”, sources said.
While the State Government is trying to revamp health delivery system in the State, lack of ASHA workers with refresher course training may jeopardize the health sector in the District, informed sources said on condition of anonymity.
When contacted, CMO Dr Nirmal Sarkar was candid to confess that he was not aware about the whole issue and asked NHM in-charge Dr P Debbarma to narrate the present situation. Dr Debbarma confirmed that fund under NHM was received, but training programmes could not be conducted due to non-availability of Instructor. “We have no idea as to when Instructors will be available and when refresher training course will be started”, Dr Debbarma said. (Courtesy: Tripura Times)
