Kohima: A two day State-level Orientation Workshop on LaQshya, the National Labour Room Quality Improvement Initiative and Maternal and Child Death Surveillance and response, PMSMA and GDM started from today at the Conference Hall of the Directorate of Health & Family Welfare in Kohima.

Addressing the resource persons, officers and participants, R. Ramakrishnan, Commissioner and Secretary of the Nagaland Department of H&FW stated that, the State's Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) is better compared to the national level. He, however, appealed that, as service providers the department should strive towards achieving 0 percent IMR and MMR.

Ramakrishnan also added that LaQshya being focused on the quality of labour rooms in the state we should work on the improvement of Institution Delivery in the State. He also highlighted the two important upcoming events in the State, Mission Indradhanush, focusing on full immunisation, and Ayushman Divas, aimed to cover families living below poverty line with Health Insurance and requested the medical practitioners to work hard for the successful implementation of these programmes.

Dr Kevichusa Medikhr, Mission Director, NHM, Nagaland also expressed his concern over the incidents of MMR and IMR in the labour rooms.He requested the participants to take the workshop in the programmed seriously, as it was pertaining to the life of Mother and Child and also clear all doubts in the two days.

LaQshya aims to adopt a holistic and comprehensive approach at all levels of care to improve and strengthen Quality of Care (QoC) during intra partum and immediate post partum periods, especially the satisfaction of the beneficiary. In Nagaland the implementation will be done in a phase wise manner, where during the 1st phase it will be launched in the District Hospital of Kiphire, Mon, Longleng and Tuensang followed by the rest of the Districts.