The National Health Mission (NHM), Assam, has transferred six district programme managers (DPMs), including those for Cachar, Sribhumi and Hailakandi, following a surge in neonatal deaths in the Barak Valley. The order, signed by NHM mission director Dr Lakhmanan S, cites “public interest” and the need to improve health service delivery, while health department sources said the reshuffle aims to strengthen accountability and monitoring of key public health programmes.
The transfers come days after Health Minister Ashok Singhal told the Assam assembly that the government was treating the deaths “very seriously” and regarded the situation “as of utmost importance.” District Health Societies have been instructed to relieve the outgoing officers immediately and ensure they join their new postings within 15 days.
Under the reshuffle, Goalpara DPM Khurshed Alam has been posted to Sribhumi, replacing Hanif Mohammad Alam, who has been shifted to Goalpara. Cachar DPM Rahul Ghosh has been transferred to Sonitpur, with Sonitpur’s Binoy Das posted to Cachar. Hailakandi DPM Maruf Alam Barbhuiya has been moved to West Karbi Anglong, and Hilton Saikia will take charge in Hailakandi.
The personnel changes follow a troubling tally of 148 neonatal deaths reported in the Barak Valley between April and July, with Cachar accounting for 74, Sribhumi 49 and Hailakandi 25. Official reviews identified birth asphyxia, low birth weight and neonatal sepsis as the leading medical causes of death.
Inquiries also highlighted operational gaps that may have contributed to the crisis: inadequate oxygen support at peripheral health centres, shortages of specialised neonatal equipment, weaknesses in referral services, limited ambulance availability and poor road connectivity in remote areas. The Chief Medical Officer and the health department have launched a comprehensive review of maternal and child healthcare across the valley.
Officials said the new DPMs will be expected to improve coordination, tighten supervision and address critical gaps in emergency neonatal care, particularly in strengthening oxygen support, equipment readiness and referral systems to reduce preventable newborn deaths.
Original Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/cachar-sribhumi-hailakandi-district-programme-managers-transferred-over-neonatal-deaths/articleshow/132461968.cms
Category:
Tags:
Publish Date: 2026-07-17 18:21:00
