It is an initiative to promote skill development in the health sector
JP Nadda, Union Minister, Health and Family Welfare launched Skill for Life, Save a Life initiative. Speaking on the occasion Nadda said that India enjoys a demographic dividend as more than 65 per cent youth are below the age of 35 years.The government is determined to seize this opportunity by providing adequate skills and employability to the youth for a strong foundation for continued and sustainable growth.
Skills for Life, Save a Life Initiative aims to upscale the quantity and quality of trained professionals in the healthcare system. Under this initiative various courses are planned to be initiated targeting specific competencies for healthcare professionals as well as for general public.
Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Faggan Singh Kulaste, Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare,C.K. Mishra, Secretary (Health & Family Welfare) and Dr Henk Bekedam, WHO Representative to India were also present at the occasion.
Speaking at the function, Nadda pointed out that skill enhances economy of the country, too by reducing the gap between demand and supply of trained and skilled manpower in every field. The potential for skilled healthcare workers and professionals is immense in the country. Such courses ensure that the health sector gets the adequate skilled health workers.
Nadda further informed that the curriculum has been designed by National Institute of Health and Family Welfare (NIHFW) and AIIMS, Delhi. The Health Minister highlighted that in India, 1,324 accidents occur on roads every day and a life is lost every four minutes and measures taken in the first 10 minutes can save a life. It was thus announced that the Ministry is initiating Skill a Life, Save a Life programme by launching First Responder course for professionals as well as general public, to be conducted in Central and state government training institutes from the next month. This will be conducted across the country in each district, to empower every single citizen of the country to be the first person to provide first aid and initial care in case of an emergency.
Addressing the participants, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Minister of State (I/C), Skill Development and Entrepreneurship said that skill development provides platform for lakhs of youth in the country to get trained for employment. The Skill Development Ministry is providing several certified courses for skilling to provide manpower for various areas of work.
At the event, Nadda also launched the logo of Skills for life, Save a life’ along with the Standardised Professional curriculum for physiotherapy, optometry, dialysis therapy technology, medical radiology and imaging technology, radiotherapy technology, health information management, operation theatre technology and medical laboratory science and short term training courses with varying entry qualification in – First Responder, General Duty Assistant, Geriatric Care Assistant, Home Health Aide, Phlebotomist, Sanitary Health Inspector, Dietetic Aide, Diabetes Educator, Emergency Medical Technician- Basic and Medical Equipment Technology Assistant.