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Health profile |
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The vision and mission of the Dzongkhag health sector is to consolidate and make accessibility while providing the quality health care services to the neediest. Also to render balance services of curative and Preventive to the community as a whole.
The Dzongkhag has one hospital and six Basic health units (BHUs) which cater the basic health care services for the entire population. Under this Dzongkhag, there are twenty two (22) out reach clinics (ORC) in remote parts of the village.
Basic health care services in the villages like first aids, sanitation & hygiene promotional activities are also rendered by 45 village health workers in the Gewog.
The accessibility to the health services has improved with coming up of better communication and transportation facilities in the Gewog.
The Dzongkhag has achieved 90% rural water supply coverage and reduce the incidence of water borne diseases. Besides, overall immunization coverage in the Dzongkhag has 99% as per the annual house hold survey of 2009.
The Dzongkhag level Multi- Sectoral Task force (MSTF) has been taking lead role in advocating and creating awareness on STI, HIV/AIDS, Teenage pregnancy, Substance abuse in the Dzongkhag. A total of 13000 populations in the Dzongkhag were advocated including Taxi drivers, School youth, Armed forces, shopkeepers, Dratshang monks and Govt. servants. The awareness program at the grass root level is carried out by the Gewog MSTF members.
Constraints/ Problems:
I Health coverage:
While going through the distribution of the health care services in the villages and gewog level, some of the villages are still remain without optimal health service coverage due to absence of health facility nearby. Nimshong village under Korphu Gewog and Kella village under Tangsibi Gewog receives health services once in a month through ORC, these two villages are located 4-5 hrs walking distances from the main health facility.
II Inadequate health staff:
Dzongkhag health sector has still shortage of health staff to run the facility smoothly. Accordingly, promotive, preventive, curative and rehabilitative services could not be enhanced. More over, promotion of the BHU level institutional delivery is the priority set by the Ministry, but due to inadequate female staff at the health center, the above said strategy could not be in place till date.
III Rural water supply scheme:
Although, there is constant implementation of the strengthening and consolidation of rural water supply activities, the coverage is not cent percentage. The 90% of the population in the Dzongkhag has access to safe drinking water & sanitation. The remaining 10% of the population still not access to safe drinking water and proper sanitation facilities. The Dzongkhag has set the top priority to achieve left over population within the forth year of 10th plan.
IV Social problems:
The increasing trend of social problems like alcoholism, drug abuse and domestic violence in the Dzongkhag has been one of the issues for the sector. Drug abuse such as cigarette and Baba tobacco consumptions are more prevalent amongst the younger generation. Also alcoholism is a major problem both in village and towns. This has often led to more cases of domestic problems. The records of health facilities, Royal Bhutan Police and District court shows the numerous cases of social problems like alcohol related morbidity and mortality, crimes, accidents and domestic violence. This is causing the degradation of the age –old social values deeply rooted in our Bhutanese society.
Recommendations:
(To overcome the above challenges, the following are recommended)
1 To overcome the existing coverage-challenges and to provide access to the quality services. Establishment of new health infrastructure and consolidation of existing infrastructure is required.
2 Rural water supply schemes and sanitation program is the main activities which curb the water related communicable and non-communicable diseases in the entire population. This vital activity to be made available to the unreached population to achieve 100% coverage to bring down the incidence of water borne diseases and ultimately reduction of mortality rate.
3 Presently, there is shortage of skilled Medical staff both in Hospital as well as in the BHUs thereby compromising the quality of services. The deployment and appointment of adequate health workers in the hospital and BHUs are required.
4 Gainful employment for the unemployment youths in the town and villages needs to be looked into. The govt. should increase the duties on the alcohol related products. The issuance of new bar licenses should be stopped immediately. Advocacy program on the drugs and alcohol needs to be further disseminated at the grass root level.
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