The Indo-Tibet Border Police will look after the health services for Uttarakhand’s 108 international border villages. The commitment of the ITBP was formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) inked between the Uttarakhand government and Central armed police force in Dehradun on Thursday under “Swastha Seema Abhiyan”(SSA) of the former.
Sharing the information, Director General (DG) state Information Department Bansidhar Tiwari stated that the MoU entails ITBP to provide integrated primary healthcare services to the civilian population of 108 international border villages in the districts of Pithoragarh, Chamoli and Uttarkashi. He said that the MoU would help launch a phase-1 campaign to ensure accessibility of health services to the people in remote areas of the state bordering mainly China and Nepal.
According to the health service MoU between the Uttarakhand government and the ITBP, the latter will provide qualified doctors and paramedical staff along with construction of medical inspection (MI) rooms and tele-medicine facilities for all the 108 border villages. Besides, the Central armed police force will conduct regular visits to border villages to provide healthcare as per its fixed schedule.
The ITBP will also be responsible for maintaining medical health cards or records of the beneficiaries and manage availability of medical equipment, medicines, and consumables for providing adequate health services to the villagers.
The state government, in its turn, will provide demographic data of the relevant villages and essential medical equipment in the early days of implementing phase-1 of the health service plan for Sino-India and Indo-Nepal border villages. It will also ensure adequate supply of medicines and materials every six months based on consumption needs of the targeted population. Apart from this, the MoU provides for emergency evacuations from the villages and telecommunication support system in these areas.
Reacting to the MoU, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami stated that “Swastha Seema Abhiyan” is an effective initiative toward improving living conditions of the people in border areas. It will not only strengthen and improve health services but also promote trust, security and stability in border villages.” Dhami reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the holistic development of border areas, calling the MoU a vital step in the same direction.