Chief Secretary Holds Joint Meeting with UNICEF and Department Officials on Children's Health Programs
Emphasis on strengthening children's nutrition, health, drinking water, and sanitation services.
Discussion on expanding nutrition programs in districts.
Raipur, Chief Secretary Shri Vikas Sheel today held a meeting at Mantralaya Mahanadi Bhawan with UNICEF and officials from the state government's Health Department, Panchayat and Rural Development Department, Public Health Engineering Department, Women and Child Development Department, and other departments regarding the health programs being run for children in the state.
In the meeting, detailed discussions were held to make nutrition, health, education, drinking water, cleanliness, and sanitation services for children in the state more effective. Various issues including malnutrition, anemia, developmental delays, and maternal and child health among children were discussed in detail. Necessary guidelines were given to UNICEF and departmental officials to ensure the availability of essential micronutrients, folate, vitamins, B-12, and zinc under children's health programs. Maternal and infant mortality rates, anemia control, malnutrition, and child marriage were also reviewed in detail.
The joint meeting of officials and UNICEF also emphasized the need to expand community management of children to all districts and to enhance the capacity of health workers to provide nutritional support to parents of children with disabilities. Information was provided on improving the quality and effectiveness of take-home rations, as well as promoting nutritious home-based food and better feeding practices for children. The availability of grains, pulses, and legumes at the Gram Panchayat level, and the concept of grain banks, were also discussed.
Furthermore, emphasis was placed on increasing the availability of good seeds to enhance farmers' access to diverse and nutrient-rich crops and pulses in the state. It was informed in the meeting that there has been a significant reduction in malaria cases due to the anti-malaria campaign in the state. The status of anemia in children was discussed, under which special health programs are being run in Bastar to tackle anemia in children. The Chief Secretary directed for better coordination among various departments for child health programs in all districts, effective implementation of schemes at the ground level, and ensuring essential services reach the people.
The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Panchayat and Rural Development, Mrs. Richa Sharma; Principal Secretary, Department of Women and Child Development, Mrs. Shahla Nigar; Secretary, Department of Public Health and Family Welfare, Mr. Amit Kataria; Secretary, Department of Public Health Engineering, Mr. Abdul Kaisar Haq; Secretary, Department of Home, Mrs. Neha Champawat; Commissioner, Samagra Shiksha, Ms. Kiran Kaushal, along with officials from the Education, Health, Panchayat and Rural Development, and other departments.