Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 01 October 2024
Andaman and Nicobar Islands celebrated Ayushman Pakhwada from September 20th to 30th, 2024, in commemoration of the 6th anniversary of Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) and the 3rd anniversary of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM). The event, spearheaded by the State Health Agency (SHA), aimed to raise public awareness about these transformative health initiatives through a series of activities across the islands.
Throughout the 10-day campaign, awareness programs were conducted at all AB-PMJAY-empanelled hospitals. These sessions catered to both healthcare staff and the public, ensuring widespread understanding of the schemes’ benefits. Additionally, ANMs and ASHAs carried out a PMJAY Card generation drive in their respective areas to extend the scheme’s coverage to more beneficiaries.
A special highlight of the Pakhwada was an orientation session on AB-PMJAY and ABDM, conducted by Dr. P. Lal, Nodal Officer (AB-PMJAY), for the 3rd-year MBBS Part-I students (Batch 2021) of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Institute of Medical Sciences (ANIIMS). The session aimed to equip future medical professionals with knowledge about these crucial healthcare initiatives.
Further engaging the public, Dr. Lal also addressed queries on the AB-PMJAY and ABDM schemes through the popular ‘Doctors Speak’ program aired by Doordarshan Kendra, Sri Vijaya Puram, broadening the reach of the awareness campaign.
In a bid to foster community engagement, BJR Hospital in Car Nicobar organized a bike rally from the hospital to Gandhi Chowk, generating awareness about the AB-PMJAY scheme among the local population. The rally drew significant attention and helped spread the message of affordable healthcare.
Moreover, an informative session led by Mr. R. Vivek, IEC Manager of the State Health Agency, was held at the Government Boys Senior Secondary School in Sri Vijaya Puram. The session introduced students to the AB-PMJAY scheme, followed by an essay competition to encourage students to reflect on the importance of accessible healthcare.
The Ayushman Pakhwada successfully mobilised communities across the islands, reinforcing the importance of affordable healthcare and digital health initiatives under the AB-PMJAY and ABDM schemes.