One day training in two batches, of Lab Technicians on Free Diagnostic Service from the Districts under the State started on the 3rd of July 2025 at the Conference Hall of Directorate of Health & Family Welfare, Kohima. The training is organized in collaboration with the Regional Resource Center- North East, Guwahati (RRC-NE).
During a short program prior to the technical session, Dr. Raj Prabha Moktan, Director, RRC-NE, Guwahati stated that, Lab Services is very crucial when it comes to health, as it is important not only for clinical health service but also for preventive public health, as it is linked with every health services provided. So we need to be very focused on improving the lab services from now onwards and which is why RRC-NE decided to help with the capacity building, she added. She also mentioned that, with the next phase of National Health Mission (2025-2030), there will be more focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in health care and e-Health and so even the Lab Services have to improve on what we were doing.
Dr. Raj Prabha encouraged the State to increase the lab services provided at different levels of Health structure as per the Indian Public Health Standard (IPHS). She also appreciated the State’s low infant mortality rate, which stands at 7 as per SRS 2022 and also the low number of anemia cases among pregnant women as compared to the National figure. She also mentioned the functional Health & Wellness Center (HWC) in the State which is, 78% out of the target and out of that 83% are providing all the required services. Dr. Raj also commented on the remarkable community engagement in all sectors especially in Health in the State and the significant lead in the certification of Health Units on National Quality Assurance Standard (NQAS) and that if we keep on working hard we will be able to certify 50% of the Health Units by 2025 and 100% by December 2026 as targeted. She also appreciated the State’s rational transfer and posting policy.
Dr. Mereninla Senlem, Principal Director, DoHFW in her address appreciated the Director, RRC-NE, Guwahati for always being concerned about Nagaland especially for the Aspiration Districts and Blocks. Dr. Mereninla added that, the responsibility of Lab. Technecian is critical as giving the accurate diagnosis is crucial in health care since it correlate with providing the accurate treatment and therefore, encouraged the Lab Technicians present to upscale their skills during such trainings and whenever possible. She also mentioned that, for the career up gradation which is a continuous process the State’s Paramedical Institute has started B.Sc in Lab. Technician
Welcoming the Officials, Trainers and participants present, Dr. Avile Zao, Mission, Director, National Health Mission (NHM) also encouraged the Lab. Technicians to actively engage themselves during this training since it’s a valuable opportunity to expand their knowledge as the insights and skills that they gain during the training will not only enhance their capabilities but also contribute to overall quality of Lab. services in our State. She added that, as we navigate the complexity of medical diagnostics, having skilled Lab. Technicians is paramount.
Delivering the vote of thanks Dr. Sentimeren Aonok, Director, DoHFW stressed that as Health care Service, our goal is to provide accessible, affordable, quality and timely health care and stated that, such kind of training is much needed in our state and thanked the RRC-NE and NHM, Nagaland team for the initiative.
The Program was chaired by Dr. Keveduyi Theyo, State Program Officer, NHM, Nagaland. Dr. Manyau Phom, Deputy Director, NHM gave a brief overview of Free Diagnostic Service Initiative (FDSI) in the State. The participants will be trained in two batches where, on the 3rd of July, Lab. Technicians from the Districts of Mon, Noklak, Peren, Phek, Tuensang, Wokha, Zunheboto and Longleng will be trained and the rest of the Districts of Kohima, Dimapur, Mokokchung and Kiphire on the 4th of July 2025. They will be trained on Free Diagnostic Service Initiative (FDSI), Internal Quality Control, EQAS and hands on training.
The Resource person for the training are Bhaswat Kumar Das, Senior Consultant, RRC-NE; Pumani Kalita, Consultant, CP-CPHC (RRC-NE) and personnel from Trimed with which NHM has a MoU for maintenance of Medical Equipments across the State and OEM on Equipment.
(DIPR)
