The KAYAYKALP Award Felicitation program for awardee health facilities for the year 2019-2020, was held at the Directorate of Health & Family Welfare, Kohima on 26th March 2021, with Minister, Health & Family Welfare Department, S. Pangnyu Phom as the special guest.

            In his opening remark, Principal Secretary, Health & Family Welfare Department, Amardeep S. Bhatia, IAS, said that KAYAKALP was introduced by the Prime Minister in 2014 and it was launched on a national level by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare on 15th May 2015. He also said that Kayakalp, which means rejuvenation, is an initiative which was launched to promote cleanliness, hygiene and infection control practices in public health facilities. The goal of Kayakalp is to incentivize and recognize public healthcare facilities that show exemplary performance in adhering to standard protocols of cleanliness and infection control. He congratulated the winners of the awards and he urged them to set high standards for other facilities to compete in for future.

            Deputy Director, NHM, Dr. Manyau Phom, while highlighting the programme, mentioned that although the external assessment was completed by 2nd week of March 2020, due the pandemic, the award function could not be held in time. He also said that the objective of Kayakalp scheme was to inculcate a culture of ongoing assessment and peer review of performance related to hygiene, cleanliness and sanitation, to create and share sustainable practices related to improved cleanliness in public health facilities linked to positive health outcomes, and to link performance under ‘Mera Aspataal’ (clients satisfaction) under Kayakalp scheme. He further added that based on the norms and guidelines, as provided by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Nagaland had undertaken the processes and protocols followed by the assessment of health facilities for the Kayakalp award.  Manyau also said that Kayakalp can play a pivotal role in reinstating and reconfirming the trust and confidence of the community in public health facilities. Cleanliness is not one time activity but should be integrated in our day to day lives.

            Minister, S. Pangnyu Phom, in his short speech said that Kayakalp schemes are to encourage and incentivize public health facilities. These awards are meant for hospitals with the highest standards of sanitation, hygiene and quality of Health Care Services. Pangnyu also said that there has been a phenomenal transformation in many hospitals particularly, those hospitals which has bagged the Kayakalp award in the last few years. He reiterated that teamwork is crucial in any event. He stressed that Kayakalp award, without the 4th grade staff contribution, nurses and doctors cannot do it alone, and he congratulated all the staff who has put equal effort to win the award. He also said that he will continue to give his support to build stronger, skilled and equipped health care workers to provide quality and accessible healthcare services and to build a resilient health system in the State.

            Awards & Incentives (Kayakalp & NQAS) to Hospitals:

            For Quality improvement especially Cleanliness, hygiene & infection control, the list of selected Health Units awarded under Kayakalp during 2019-20 are given below

            Presentation on State overview on quality assurance programme was given by Dr. Vizovotuo Lohe, while a presentation on SUMAN was given by UNICEF Consultant, Dr. Longri Kichu.

                                                                                                (Takumpula Longkumer, IA)