For implementation of the Adolescent Health Programme in the 7th National Summit on Good, Replicable Practices and Innovations in Public Health Care Systems in India,Nayi Disha Kendras established in Himachal Pradesh.
The summit was chaired by AS&MD, NHM, MoHFW. In this regard concept was presented by Secretary Health, Government of Himachal Pradesh Mr. Amitabh Avasthi to Ministry of Health
and Family Welfare, Government of India.
He said that to provide access to health services to the 10 to 19 years population across the state.
The Department of Health and Family welfare has established 99 Nayi Disha Kendra in state.
Clinical, Counselling and referral services on nutrition, sexual and reproductive health, substance
abuse, non-communicable diseases, mental health and gender based violence are being provided to adolescents.
The unique feature of these Nayi Disha Kendra is provision of deaddiction services which is one of its first kind of initiative in the country. The involvement of MAMTA HIMC in conducting gap analysis and hand holding in establishment of these clinics was also appreciated. The services are provided by trained Medical Officers, Paramedic staff and Counselors. These clinics work in close coordination with District Mental Health teams.
The department is planning to establish Adolescent Friendly Health Resource Centre at three locations i.e DDUZH Shimla, RH Chamba and ZH Mandi. The state has also developed a questionnaire based application to assess the mental health issues amongst the population with special focus on suicidal tendency.
This would be a robust survey to capture the incidence of mental health issues and suicidal tendencies.The summit was attended by 29 states and 7 union territories. Chhattisgarh for the concept of Hamar Asptaal under NUHM, Madhya Pradesh for Maternal Death Review were some of the other states who were also selected as best practices.
