This women’s day, govt to focus on health issues

Nagpur: To mark the International Women’s Day, the state government has decided to carry on several awareness activities between February 26 and March 12. Two new schemes, one an improved version of the vehicles that drop new mothers home post the delivery and skill labs to upgrade the skill sets of health workers would also be launched on Thursday. These will be started in all 13 women’s hospitals in the state, including Daga Hospital in the city and Bai Gangabai Government Hospital for Women, Gondia, in Vidarbha.

The activity titled Mahila Arogya Abhiyaan (MAA) will be inaugurated in Nagpur’s Daga Hospital for Women by first lady of the state Amruta Fadnavis in the presence of deputy director of health services of Nagpur division Dr Sanjay Jaiswal. Guests would include superintendent of police Nagpur (rural) Aarti Singh, social worker Lalita Kumbhare and principal of Public Health Instititute, Nagpur, Dr Padmaja Jogewar.

“Several important themes like save the girl child, safe motherhood, clean and hygienic hospital premises would be taken up during the fortnight. Awareness about them will be spread through posters, banners, workshops and lectures,” informed Dr Jaiswal. Health camps with facilities for check-ups and information on various aspects of women’s health like institutionalized deliveries, sexual harassment, sexually transmitted diseases among others would also be conducted.

The aim was to encourage women to take care of their health as a priority, said Dr Jogewar. “In our society women give last priority to their own health. They do not realize how important it is to be in good health to be able to take care of those dependent on them,” she said. Several non-governmental organizations have also decided to pitch in for this activity. Members from Indian Medical Association (IMA), Indian Dental Association (IDA), several private hospitals and individuals will be providing their services in the check up camps.

ENSURING SAFE MOTHERHOOD

Vatsalya Rugnavahika – Under the Janani Shishu Suraksha Yojana (JSSY), a pick up and drop facility is made available for all pregnant women. These vehicles would now have an LCD screen on which presentations regarding caring for the newborn, ideal diet for a new mother, importance of breastfeeding, vaccination and its timetable and answers to the common doubts that new mothers have will be shown.

Skill labs – All women’s hospitals and district hospitals in the state will have skill labs. By means of mannequins, posters and LCD screens, training will be provided to health workers in the hospital including doctors, nurses, and attendants on basic skills required to manage pregnant women, new mothers and newborns.