Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai's Initiative: Coordinated Strategy to be Formulated for Healthy Mothers, Healthy Children, and Malnutrition-Free Chhattisgarh
Effective Action Plan to be Prepared by All Concerned Departments with UNICEF's Technical Support
Healthy mothers and healthy children are the strongest foundation of a developed Chhattisgarh - Chief Minister Shri Sai
Raipur, Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai was courteously met today at Mantralaya Mahanadi Bhawan by Ms. Cynthia McCaffrey, Representative of UNICEF in India. During this, a detailed discussion was held on maternal and child health, malnutrition eradication, and the overall development of children. Chief Minister Shri Sai said that the state government is giving the highest priority to maternal and child health and children's nutrition, and coordinated efforts of all departments are necessary for sustainable improvement in these areas.
Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai said that healthy mothers and healthy children are the strongest foundation of a developed Chhattisgarh. He said that all concerned departments, including Health and Family Welfare, Women and Child Development, Panchayat and Rural Development, and Tribal Development departments, should prepare a coordinated and result-oriented action plan with the technical support of UNICEF to reduce infant mortality rate, maternal mortality rate, and malnutrition. The Chief Minister said that the impact of schemes will increase only when various departments work with shared goals and a coordinated approach. He asked the officials to prepare a multi-sectoral strategy to effectively deliver the benefits of health and nutrition schemes to the last person and ensure qualitative improvement in children's nutritional status.
On this occasion, Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai warmly welcomed Ms. Cynthia McCaffrey by presenting her with a shawl and 'Nandi', a symbol of Chhattisgarh's cultural identity. Ms. McCaffrey, in turn, presented the Chief Minister with a special commemorative postage stamp issued by the Indian Postal Department on the occasion of UNICEF completing 75 years in India.
UNICEF's India Representative Ms. Cynthia McCaffrey greeted the Chief Minister with "Jai Johar". She said that Chhattisgarh is a state of natural beauty, rich culture, and simple, honest people. She informed that UNICEF has been working with the state government for a long time in the fields of maternal and child health, nutrition, and child protection. She expressed confidence that through the joint efforts of the state government and UNICEF, the future of the state's children will become more secure, healthy, and prosperous.
Present in the meeting were cabinet members, Chief Secretary Shri Vikas Sheel, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Shri Subodh Kumar Singh, UNICEF Chhattisgarh Head Ms. Seema Kumar, Shri Anil Gulati, and Dr. Bal Paritosh Das.