A one day Training of Trainers (ToT) of District Consultant, National Urban Health Mission (NUHM), District Community Mobiliser, Block ASHA Coordinators, Block Program Manager, General Nursing & Midwifery, Auxiliary Nursing and Midwifery, Data Entry Operator, Vaccinator and Community Health Officer of Dimapur, Kohima, Mokokchung, Tuensang, Wokha and Mon on Mahila Arogya Samiti (MAS) was held at the IDSP Hall of Directorate of Health & Family Welfare, Kohima, Nagaland on the 6th of March 2025.

Addressing the participants and trainers present, Dr. Akuo Sorhie, Mission Director, National Health Mission, Nagaland mentioned that MAS is formed with a central objective to empower women in the Communities and involve them directly in the Health & Well-being of their respective communities. She added that, one of the major responsibilities of MAS is to engage in the community health planning thus, creating an environment of trust and openness where people feel empowered to seek help, access services and take charge of their own health.  The participants will be trained on the Aims and Objectives of MAS, Community Health Planning, Maintaining records and funds, Monitoring etc. after which, they will train the MAS members in their respective Districts.

Mahila Arogya Samitis (MAS) are women’s groups of 8-12 locally resident women, formed for every 100 households in urban vulnerable settlements, for neighborhood health planning, action on social determinants of health and for monitoring all local services.  Urban Primary Health Unit has been fully set up in five Districts so far in the State and at present Mon District is under process. The rest of the Districts will be covered in the coming years in a phase wise manner.

(DIPR)