Cabinet Minister Sakeena Itoo Inaugurates NTPHC and Sheep Extension Centre in Kulgam

Danishwar Hameed 

Kulgam, July 19: In a significant step toward strengthening healthcare and livestock services in South Kashmir, Minister for Health and Medical Education, Social Welfare and Education, Sakeena Itoo, today inaugurated two major public infrastructure projects in the Khull D H Pora area of Kulgam district.

The Minister formally threw open the newly constructed New Type Primary Health Centre (NTPHC) in Khull Ahmad village, completed at a cost of ₹1.88 crore, and a Sheep Extension Centre worth ₹45 lakh, both aimed at improving access to quality medical and veterinary care in the region.

The inauguration ceremony saw the presence of Deputy Commissioner Kulgam Athar Aamir Khan, Director Health Services Kashmir, Additional District Development Commissioner, senior officers from the Health and Sheep Husbandry Departments, PRI representatives, and a large number of locals.

Speaking at the event, Minister Sakeena Itoo reaffirmed the government's commitment to upgrading rural infrastructure, particularly in under-served areas. “These centres will play a transformative role in providing accessible healthcare and livestock support to people in remote villages,” she said.

She emphasized the focus of the Omar Abdullah-led Government on bridging healthcare disparities, stating, “We are working to reduce the public’s dependence on far-off tertiary hospitals by strengthening local institutions and bringing services to people’s doorsteps.”

The Minister also laid the foundation stone of another healthcare facility in Khull, underscoring the government's broader plan for improving rural health infrastructure.

“We’re fixing what was denied for years. Over 500 doctors have been recently appointed to address the shortage of medical professionals in Jammu and Kashmir,” she said, adding that “the reservation issue is under process, and restoration of statehood remains our top priority.”

Minister Itoo further stressed the importance of well-equipped and adequately staffed rural institutions. “Our aim is a self-reliant Jammu and Kashmir, where no citizen is deprived of basic healthcare and animal care services,” she concluded.

Locals warmly welcomed the projects and appreciated the government’s initiatives, expressing hope for continued development and better public services in the region.