A significant health review meeting for the Varanasi division was conducted on Thursday, marking the first such gathering under the leadership of the newly appointed Additional Director, Dr. ND Sharma. The meeting provided a comprehensive assessment of the region's healthcare performance based on the September health dashboard.
Division Ranking and District Performance
The review revealed a mixed performance across the division. Varanasi division secured the third position in the state-wide rankings. However, a district-level breakdown showed varied results: Varanasi district stood at seventh position, Jaunpur at 21st, Chandauli at 25th, and Ghazipur at a concerning 45th position.
Critical Health Indicators Show Decline
Several key health metrics raised alarms during the review. A notable decline in institutional deliveries was recorded in both Ghazipur and Chandauli districts. Chandauli also witnessed a decrease in HBNC (Home-Based Newborn Care) visits and a drop in the Penta3 to BCG vaccination ratio. Furthermore, Varanasi district's TB notification standard was found to be lower than the state average.
When reviewing data entry on the RCH (Reproductive and Child Health) portal, significant gaps emerged. Against a state average of 84.33% for pregnant women registered in their first trimester, Ghazipur lagged at 74.57% and Jaunpur at 76.26%. In the registration of children aged 0 to one year, Jaunpur was at the bottom with just 39.3%, compared to the state average of 44.5%. Chandauli and Varanasi were acknowledged for the best child registration work in the division.
Immunisation and Programme-Specific Outcomes
The immunisation programme review highlighted that BCG vaccine coverage in Varanasi was lower than the state level. Under the quality assurance discussion, Varanasi emerged as the top performer, achieving more than 100% of its total annual target. Chandauli and Jaunpur followed with 20% each, while Ghazipur was at the bottom with 16%.
The Kayakalp programme results were particularly revealing. In Chandauli, only 15 out of 29 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) qualified for the next phase. Similarly, in Ghazipur, just 19 out of 60 PHCs, in Jaunpur 41 out of 85, and in Varanasi 5 out of 12 PHCs achieved the required score of 70% or more to proceed.
Staffing shortages were also noted. The selection process for 22 MBBS doctors in Jaunpur and five doctors in Ghazipur remains incomplete.
Financial Performance and NUHM Progress
The financial review presented a different picture. In the percentage of expenditure against available funds, Ghazipur was at the first position in the division, followed by Jaunpur, Varanasi, and Chandauli. However, under the National Urban Health Mission (NUHM), Chandauli led with 34% financial progress, Jaunpur was second with 25%, Ghazipur third with 23%, and Varanasi was last with just 17% expenditure.
The meeting, chaired by Dr. Sharma, served as a crucial platform to identify these disparities and chart a course for improved healthcare delivery across the Varanasi division.
