Sonitpur (Assam), 12 August (HS): Assam government, in the second phase, has granted sub-divisional status to 10 administrative circles of the state. In this series, the Barsola area of Sonitpur district, after getting the sub-divisional status, witnessed the formal inauguration of its sub-divisional office on Tuesday. Health & Family Welfare and Water Resources Minister Ashok Singhal cut the ribbon to open the office. Barsola MLA Ganesh Kumar Limbu, Sonitpur Commissioner Anand Kumar Das, Dhemaji ADC Kamal Barua and AGP district president Ratul Nath, among other dignitaries, were present.

Minister Singhal stated that the sub-division concept aims to bring administration closer to the people and make it more effective. The sub-division will have not only all powers of the sub-division but also additional rights and responsibilities.

Later, the minister inaugurated the Barsala Model Hospital and inspected various departments. He affirmed the Assam government’s commitment to providing quality healthcare and free medicines in all government hospitals. The health department, in collaboration with the Assam Medical Services Corporation Limited, is ensuring the availability of 353 essential medicines.

Subsequently, Minister Singhal inaugurated a state-level IEC awareness campaign at the Dhekiajuli Shaheed Smarak Auditorium. He emphasized that awareness is the most effective way to prevent AIDS, with the campaign aimed at providing comprehensive information on HIV/AIDS and raising public awareness about transmission routes.

The programme was attended by Dr. Lakshmanan S, Mission Director, National Health Mission Assam; Dr. Manoj Kumar Choudhury, Executive Director; Dr. Indunashi Das, Project Director, Assam State AIDS Control Society; along with a large number of officers and staff. Over 300 students from Sonitpur district also participated in the campaign.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash