National Health Mission

The National Health Mission (NHM) is a comprehensive health initiative launched by the Government of India with the aim of providing universal access to quality health care services to the underprivileged population. The mission has been designed to address the health care needs of the rural and urban areas in a comprehensive and integrated manner.

The primary objective of the National Health Mission is to improve the availability and accessibility of basic health care services, particularly in the rural and remote areas of the country. The mission focuses on improving the health indicators of the country, reducing the infant mortality rate, maternal mortality rate, and total fertility rate. The NHM also aims to provide essential health care services, including preventive and curative care, to the population.

The National Health Mission is implemented in two phases: the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and the National Urban Health Mission (NUHM). The NRHM focuses on providing health care services in rural areas while the NUHM focuses on providing health care services in urban areas.

Under the National Health Mission, various programs and schemes have been launched to achieve its objectives. Some of the major initiatives under the mission include the Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK), National Program for Health Care of the Elderly (NPHCE), and National Tobacco Control Program (NTCP).

The National Health Mission also places significant emphasis on the strengthening of health systems, including human resource development, infrastructure development, and strengthening of health management information systems.

To ensure the effective implementation of the mission, the government has set up a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation mechanism. This mechanism tracks the progress of the mission, identifies the challenges, and takes corrective measures to address them.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the National Health Mission is a comprehensive health initiative aimed at improving the health indicators of the country and providing universal access to quality health care services to the underprivileged population. The mission has been designed to address the health care needs of the rural and urban areas in a comprehensive and integrated manner and has been implemented through various programs and schemes.