Leh, November 15: The Principal Secretary, Health and Medical Education, Dr. Pawan Kotwal chaired a meeting to review the progress of various projects of the Health Department at the Civil Secretariat, Leh.

Dr. Kotwal congratulated the Health Department for implementing the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 in Ladakh. He exhorted that no one should be denied their right to be registered once they are born as it is a person’s right to be counted at both extremes of life for social inclusion. 

Further, Dr. Kotwal impressed upon the officials to build a natural hot spring water bath at Chumathang. The sulfur water at Chumathang is known for its medicinal properties and can be developed into a sought-after destination according to international standards for tourists and locals alike, he added.

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In the meeting, the Director, National Health Mission, Dr. Iftikhar Chowdhary apprised the Principal Secretary of the status of 108 Ambulance services in the Union Territory. The 108 Emergency Response Service is a free emergency service providing integrated medical, police, and fire emergency services. Dr. Iftikhar informed that two Advance Life Support and two Basic Life Support ambulances have been taken over by the office of the Mission Director, NHM, Ladakh. Further, he shared that the Director Health Services shall provide eight Basic Life Support and two Advanced Life Support ambulances to be integrated under 108 Ambulance Services.

Dr. Iftikhar shared that the required manpower to operationalize the 108 ambulance services in both districts has been outsourced. He said that 20 drivers and 20 paramedics/pharmacists have been engaged. He further informed that in collaboration with the faculty of Jai Prakash Narayan Apex Trauma Centre, AIIMS Delhi, 7-days certificate training course on ALS/BLS is being provided by Anesthetists at SNM hospital, Leh. Eight Data Entry Operators have been engaged for the operationalization of the Centralized Call Centre, he added.

The 108 ambulances provide pre-hospital care to patients during transit to the hospital and are well-equipped to handle emergency situations.

The meeting was also attended by Dr. Motup Dorjey, Director Health Services; Chief Medical Officer, Leh, Dr. Norzin Angmo; Chief Medical Officer, Kargil, Dr. Munawar Hussain Wazir; Chief Engineer, CPWD; Chief Engineer, PWD; Deputy Director Planning (K), PD & MD, and concerned BMOs.