15^th August 2018

The NPCDCS Unit of District Ganderbal under the aegis of Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir(DHSK) screened around 1250 police personnel for Diabetes and Hypertension under National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke (NPCDCS) as on 14/08/2018.Besides screening counseling sessions along with free medicine/drugs was also provided to the patients during the camp. Apart from the screening for Diabetes and Hypertension, HIV tests were done also. Director General Health Services, Dr Saleem ur Rehman was the Chief Guest on the occasion while as the camp was inaugurated by Principal/Commandant Police Training School (PTS) Mr. Haseeb ul Rehaman.The Director General personally inspected the various sections of the camp along with Chief Medical Officer Ganderbal, District Health Officer,Medical Superintendent District Hospital Ganderbal & State Surveillance Officer.Medical Officers along with paramedical & supporrive staff worked with dedication in making the camp a success. Around 1250 people were screened in this camp and patients who have been detected as a case of Suspected Diabetes and Hypertension have been told to report NCD Clinic, District Hospital Ganderbal for further evaluation and follow up.

23^rd July 2018

Director General Health Services (DGHS), Dr Saleem ur Rehman took a detailed review of health care services being provided to Yatra pilgrims via Baltal Route.DGHS took an extensive one day tour on Sunday & visited Baltal Base Camp Hospital, Panjtarni Base Camp Hospital, Nilgrath and Dardkoot Medical Aid Centre.The DGHS was accompanied by Chief Medical Officer Dr R D Kasana, Yatra Incharge Baltal, Dr Shabir Awan, Nodal Officer Yatra, DHSK Dr Arshad Rafi and other officials. DGHS on this occasion inspected various sections of the hospitals and took review of health care services being provided to the yatri pilgrims.He also interacted with staff and the patients admitted in the hospitals.He appreciated the yatra health administrators and efforts of the doctors,paramedics and supportive staff of the Directorate & those deputed by Government of India who are delivering duties at tough terrains and took their feedback also. The Director General Health Services also said that it has been due to the efforts of the Directorate in terms of Human Resource,Skill Based Medical Emeregency Trainings & Advanced Medical Emeregncy Equipments installed at Hospitals enroute holy cave that the department has seen a drastic decrease in mortality & morbidity among the pilgrims who come to perform Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra.

21^st July 2018

Director General Health Services Dr Saleem Rehman was today invited by UGC-Human Resource Development Centre ,University of Kashmir wherein the DGHS delivered a guest lecture under the General Orientation Course programme organised by UGC-HRD, University of Kashmir for newly appointed faculty members of university & education departments. The lecture was assisted with powerpoint presentation and the participants were sensitised about the administrative decisions, projects & innovations adopted by the department that has delivered huge dividends at grass root level for better patient care. The participants under the orientation course shall visit Kashmir Skill & Simulation Centre on 21st July.

23^rd July 2018

Continuing its efforts to disseminate Basic Life Support Skills across Kashmir Division, the Directorate of Health Services,Kashmir today concluded a batch of Basic Life Support Skill training at Kashmir Skill & Simulation Centre(KSSC), Regional Institute of Health & Family Welfare(RIHFW),Dhobiwan, wherein apart from involving participants from the department, the directorate had invited Professors, Teachers & Students of Government Degree College Magam & Tangmarg. Director General Health Services, Dr Saleem ur Rehman who initiated this programme said that there is a dire need of taking major stakeholders on board as the incidences of trauma victims is increasing rampantly and it's of utmost importance to inculcate and impart Basic Life Support Skills in all Colleges & Schools. He also said that it is not possible for the department to train everybody and as such the directorate is planning to make BLS Master Trainers in colleges and schools who shall train their students at their respective place of postings so that we have skilled first responders in bulk to handle any trauma emergency till professional health care service reaches the victim. He further said that any college or school who are interested to make BLS ToTs for their respective institutions should contact us on rihfwdhsk@gmail.com. Principal RIHFW Dr. Arshad Rafi while welcoming the faculty & students from colleges said that this step will go a long way in spreading the quantum of first responders among laymen across Kashmir. Pertinently it is to mention that the department has trained more than 7500 persons in Basic Life Support Skills wherein they are being trained on simulation methodology along with mock drills to handle different kind of medical emergencies as a first responder.

27^th June 2018

Directorate of Health Services,Kashmir (DHSK) today operationalized the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra 2018 control room which has been established at Public Health Building, Barzulla, Srinagar.The Control Room will collect and analyse information across multiple parameters on real time basis for smooth conduct and and managing emergencies during the course of Yatra. Multiple formats for daily reporting have been circulated with the concerned officers/officials so that the camp wise work done, infrastructure, staff attendance,injuries,referrals etc are timely reported so that appropriate response is initiated. Director General Health Services, Kashmir Dr Saleem ur Rehman visited the control room today to inspect the preparedness and stressed upon the officers to make every effort for maintaining proactive channels of communication with the medical camps established enroute Holy Cave. Pertinently, Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra 2018 is commencing from tomorrow and the department is geared up to provide the medical facilities to the pilgrims.

28^th June 2018

In view of Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra 2018, Directorate of Health Services,Kashmir (DHSK) has set up Emergency Response (ER) teams and Triage cells at both Baltal and Pahalgam base camp hospitals. The teams included specialist surgeons, physicians and anaesthetists who shall be working under a well coordinated command centre. The infrastructure pertained to the the teams shall cater to provision of essential and emergency drugs,triage spaces and protocols for management of trauma cases and cardiac emergencies enroute holy cave.The roster team will be working round the clock under a well established ER team guidelines for timely patient care along with their management and prompt referral in case or critical patients. The Divisional Level Yatra Trauma Management team has already imparted High Altitude Medical Emeregency Training (HAMET) at Baltal & Pahalgam base camp hospitals to all the doctors & paramedics deputed by Government of India so that they are fully acquinted in treating and managing emergency patients during Yatra. Pertinently the Directorate has trained around 450 health personnel of its own departemnt in HAMET earlier at Kashmir Skills & Simulation Centre, Dhobiwan.These health personnel are being deputed enroute holy cave in batch wise manner.

22^nd June 2018

Director General Health Services, Kashmir (DGHSK), Dr. Saleem ur Rehman today visited SNM Hospital Leh where he took stock of the healthcare facilities being provided to general public. The DGHSK inspected all the sections of the hospital where he was briefed about the availability of drugs, medicines, consumables, equipment, manpower and range of health services being provided to the patients. He also interacted with the patients, attendants and the hospital staff. While appreciating the performance of the hospital staff, Dr. Saleem ur Rehman said that the commitment and dedication shown by the entire staff in providing best possible healthcare services is commendable keeping in view the difficult terrain and extreme weather conditions. He further said the work culture and the level of cleanliness and sanitation of SNM hospital Leh is highly appreciable. Dr. Saleem ur Rehman then reviewed the implementation and progress of various health projects and centrally sponsored schemes. The meeting was attended by Chief Medical Officer, Leh, Medical Superintendent, SNM Hospital Leh, District Health Officer, District Immunization Officer, District Tuberculosis Officer, all Block Medical Officer of the District and District Programme Management Unit.

20^th June 2018

Director General Health Services, Kashmir (DGHSK), Dr. Saleem ur Rehman today visited Mega Health camp organised at Harwan, Srinagar and interacted with patients and staff.DGHSK was accompanied by CMO Srinagar Dr Talat Ghani and other officers of health department

19^th June 2018

Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir (DHSK) today concluded High Altitude Medical Emergencies Training Programme (HAMET) at Kashmir Skills & Simulation Centre (KSSC), RIHFW, Dhobiwan. Around 400 persons participated in batch wise HAMET programmes.The participants included doctors and paramedics of the department deputed for upcoming Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra 2018 along with staff of other departments especially police personnel who shall be posted enroute Holy Cave for health care services to the pilgrims. HAMET involves upgrading the skills of medical staff and imparts knowledge and hands on training in BLS,Emergency Drugs,ECG basics,Arrythmias Basics,How to use defib,High Altitude Diseases,How to use HAPO Bag,Airway Management,Automatic CPR,AED handling etc.The significance of these trainings along with improved human resource & logistics has played a pivotal role in bringing down the mortality rate to the minimal during subsequent Yatras. Pertinent it is to mention that the upgraded HAMET lab was recently inaugurated by Health Minister Dr D K Manyal in presence of Director General Health Services,Kashmir (DGHSK) Dr Saleem ur Rehman. DGHSK said that the department is gearing up for the health care delivery system enroute holy cave for Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra which is going to commence from 28 June 2018.He further mentioned that the department till date has imparted HAMET training to more than 1000 health personnel including yatra staff from other departments.