Healthcare for All: How IAS Navneet Mann is Building a Healthier Lunglei (Mizoram)

IAS Navneet Mann is a 2020 batch Officer of AGMUT cadre and is currently posted as Deputy Commissioner of Lunglei District in Mizoram. Her vision for the district is to make healthcare services accessible to all while also promoting healthy lifestyle “This initiative is called the Healthy Lunglei Campaign” she said.

The first part of the campaign focuses on screening and testing people for non-communicable diseases. Under this continuous health camps have been organised across the district,and since June 2024 around 40 such camps have been conducted, reaching nearly 2,000 people. “We have tested people for conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and more,” Mann shared. “Most of those diagnosed were previously unaware of their condition.”

Given the district’s difficult terrain and remoteness, health services and coverage don’t always reach everyone, making health camps a significant contributor in early detection and timely intervention.

The second initiative under this campaign is called LEAP-Lunglei's Empowerment for Access and Equity for All Persons. This specifically focuses on persons with disabilities and further helps them in getting UDID (Unique Disability ID) cards, essential to avail government benefits, concessions, and welfare schemes.. “The purpose is to provide a healthy and better lifestyle to persons with disabilities,” Mann explained.

In this a dedicated committee was set up and a door to door survey was conducted across the district to determine people suffering with disabilities such as Blindness and others.

Under Mann’s leadership,over 1200 such individuals were identified,but only around 400 of them had UDID cards “Our next goal is to organize health camps for the remaining 800 individuals so that we can provide them with disability certificates,” she said.

Another important aspect of the campaign involves community engagement and awareness, especially around diseases that are often tabooed and under discussed such as HIV and Hepatitis C (HCV). 

Given that Christians form the majority population in the region,pastors,churches, and NGOs have been brought onboard to spread awareness “Screenings and events like friendly matches and walkathons are organised” she said 

As health is said to be true wealth,Mann has ambitious plans for the future, combining technology and diagnostics to transform healthcare for the people of lunglei “Next, we’re exploring how we can use technology to improve health diagnostics,” she said.