High Level Consultation was held at RTC led by Her Majesty Gyalyum Sangay Choden Wangchuck
The local government (LG) leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen the multi-sectoral task force and community-based support system (MSTF-CBSS) network in their districts during a high-level consultative meeting led by Her Majesty the Gyalyum Sangay Choden Wangchuck on July 17.
The MSTF-CBSS network was established in the dzongkhags under Her Majesty’s patronage to address priority public health and social issues in the communities.
MSTF was formed in 2001 under the Ministry of Health and CBSS was established in 2005 under RENEW.
In 2014, the two networks were combined with the vision of ‘Reaching out together’.
Since its inception, the network has been instrumental in reaching unreached populations and solving local issues. However, it now faces challenges such as financial and human resource constraints and weak coordination.
The high-level consultative meeting was held to identify gaps in the implementation of the network’s activities, gather suggestions from stakeholders, and develop strategies to strengthen the network.
To address financial constraints, the Ministry of Health has allocated Nu 5 million for the MSTF-CBSS in the 13th Plan.
Health Minister Tandin Wangchuk said that this fund would soon be distributed to districts based on their needs.
During the meeting, local government leaders pledged to include MSTF-CBSS in their action plans, allocate budgets, and plan activities under the gewog action plan.
The Department of Public Health will lead the implementation, working closely with RENEW and local governments to promote MSTF-CBSS activities, formulate annual action plans, and conduct quarterly reviews of progress and expenditure, among others.
Naro Gup Gyem Tshering expressed unanimous support for this initiative from Her Majesty. “The local leaders will ensure the network is strengthened and we fully commit to its implementation.”
While all local leaders supported the initiative, they agreed on the need for emergency shelters in all districts and the appointment of case managers for gender-based violence (GBV) cases, particularly in rural gewogs.
“This is crucial as rural areas face more GBV than urban areas, and the lack of services aggravates the issue,” a gup said.
RENEW has established 10 community service centres (CSCs) in 10 dzongkhags, to bring services closer to the communities. Six more CSCs are in development. The CSCs are also equipped with emergency shelters.
“We aim to have CSCs in all districts by the end of the year, and secure land and structures in the remaining four districts with the support from the districts,” RENEW’s executive director Tshering Dolkar said.
Mongar Thrizin Karma Sonam Wangchuk said that while most gups have received training, educating the community requires expertise. He called for officials to visit gewogs to advocate and create awareness. “A guidebook for implementing and carrying out MSTF-CBSS activities would be beneficial.”
The meeting was attended by dzongdas, thrompons, dzongkhag tshogdu thrizins, gups, and dzongkhag officials from 205 gewogs, as well as health and education minister, senior officials, and international partners from United Nations Fund for Population Activities, World Health Organisation, and Save the Children.