GUWAHATI: Over 1 billion humans globally lack access to health care services. To bridge this gap GNRC launched the Affordable Health Mission (AHM) in 2017. The mission has now spread to the corners of Assam and the region with the untiring efforts of the missionaries – Swasthya Mitras (Friend of Health) – who now number over 2,500, and have touched the lives of more than 10 million individuals.
To recognize their contribution, AHM today organized the First Swasthya Mitra Excellence Awards programme at the GMC Auditorium. The event will be conducted monthly hereafter, to publicly recognize the contribution, effort and achievements of the Swasthya Mitras. In the coming months, AHM will have special rewards for consistent month-to-month performers, along with monthly achievers. A total of 81 SMs received medals and certificates on the occasion, where social icons Dinesh Das and Malaya Goswami were present as chief guests, a press release said.
Addressing the ceremony, GNRC founder Dr. Nomal Chandra Borah stated that fulfilling humanity’s pressing need for affordable health by bridging access barriers required a multi-dimensional effort encompassing educating various sections of society, continuous advocacy, concerted actions and societal collaboration, which was the reason for the launch of Affordable Health Mission, which combines humane intent, progressive policies, and equitable practices.
GNRC’s Director of Neurosurgery Dr. Navanil Barua said that the primary cause of an alarming number of health conditions is a lack of persuasive communication about healthy living and the role of preventive health care and early intervention in it. Affordable Health Mission is a platform to take this message of healthy living to the masses, and thereby serve the cause of society-building and nation-building, he said.