Thane (Maharashtra): The government is paying maximum attention to the health and welfare of women and children, especially those in the backward areas of the country, United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi said here yesterday.
“Children are the future of this country and their welfare is our prime concern. The health of children is directly linked to the well-being of the mother, for which the central and state governments have taken several measures,” Sonia Gandhi said.
Her remarks came at the launch of the government’s pet scheme, Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK), initiated under the National Rural Health Mission. The scheme aims to provide comprehensive health care benefits to over 27 crore children across India. Sonia Gandhi described the RBSK as “a significant step towards controlling malnutrition” among children.
She said the Food Security Bill would contribute towards reducing malnutrition among children.
Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad and Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan were present at the launch function.
Under RBSK, the government has assured a package of health services for all children up to the age of 18. The scheme has been launched in Palghar and is set to extend across the country, in different phases. Children will, under the scheme, be screened for 30 common ailments/health conditions, so that there is the possibility of early medical intervention, in case there is such need.
Birth defects like Down’s Syndrome, congenital cataract, deafness and heart defect, deficiency conditions like anaemia, malnutrition and goitre, developmental delays and disabilities like hearing impairment and vision impairment are among the conditions for which children will be screened under this scheme.
IANS
