New Delhi: Flagging off a mobile clinic here on Monday, Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said that the pandemic had proved to be a positive period of “Care, Commitment and Confidence” for Indians and it had set an example for entire humanity across the world.
He also said that 16 Haj Houses across the country had been given to the state governments for quarantine and isolation facilities for Corona-affected people.
The Union Minister was flagging off a mobile clinic, equipped with the latest healthcare facilities, given by the Ministry of Minority Affairs’ National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC), to Holy Family Hospital, New Delhi. He said that there had been a significant change in the lifestyle of the people and work culture. The people were now more committed to service and their responsibility towards the society.
Naqvi said that the “passionate commitment of the people and the strong will of the Government” during the Corona pandemic had resulted in India speedily becoming self-reliant in the health sector. India has not only become self-reliant in production of N95 masks, PPE, ventilators and other equipment but has also helped other nations.
Naqvi said that earlier there was only one lab for Corona testing in India. “Today there is a network of 1400 labs spread in every corner of the country. In the initial stage of the Corona crisis, only 300 tests could be conducted in a day but today we can conduct more than 7 lakh tests per day,” he said. “The National Digital Health Mission has been launched. Every Indian will be given a health ID. The mission will bring a new revolution in India’s health sector. All tests of an individual, every disease, which doctor gave which medicine, reports, all these information will be contained in this one health ID,” he added.
Naqvi said that the world’s largest health care scheme “Modi Care” has become the guarantee of health and well-being of the people. “Modi Care” has covered about 40 per cent of the country’s population. The steps taken by the Government in healthcare sector during the last six years have ensured that despite of huge population, India has been successful in containing the affect of the Corona pandemic to a great extent.
Naqvi said that the Government is making continuous efforts towards modernisation of health facilities. Now, 22 new AIIMS and 157 new medical colleges are being constructed in the country. In five years, the MBBS and MD seats have been increased for more than 45,000 students.
Besides, more than 1.5 lakh “wellness centres” have been started in villages. These ‘wellness centres’ have helped the villages immensely during the Corona pandemic, he pointed out.
Naqvi said that more than 1,500 healthcare assistants, trained under the skill development programme of the Minority Affairs Ministry, were assisting in treatment of Corona patients. These assistants comprise 50 per cent girls, he said.
This year, more than 2,000 other healthcare assistants will be trained by the Minority Affairs Ministry.
The Ministry is providing one-year training to these assistants through various health organisations and reputed hospitals of the country. 16 Haj Houses across the country have been given to state governments for quarantine and isolation facilities for the Corona-affected people. Various state governments are utilising the facilities at these Haj Houses as per the need.
Rev Anil Couto, the Archbishop of Delhi; Shri PK Das, Secretary, Ministry of Minority Affairs; Fr George, Director, Holy Family Hospital; Shahbaz Ali, CMD, NMDFC, and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.