Tripura Govt plans special health drives

Tripura Government has planned to launch a week-long special health campaign 'Mukhyamantri Sustho Shoishob Sustho Kaishore Abhiyan 2.0' commencing from March 21 next.

The health drive would be carried in all eight districts of the state covering the children and adolescents in 0-19 years age group till 28 next, an official said on Saturday.

Five programmes- De-worming, Vitamin-A supplementation, Iron Folic Acid supplementation, Integrated Diarrhoea Control Fortnight and Poshan Abhiyan would be jointly implemented under this health campaign, said NHM Tripura Mission Director Dr Siddharth Shiv Jaiswal.

Addressing a press conference, he said, the Mukhyamantri Sustho Shoishob Sustho Kaishore Abhiyan 2.0 would be carried out in 4678 government, government-aided and private schools, 9991 Anganwadi centres and around 60 Degree, Technical, Polytechnic Colleges and ITI along with brick kilns and tea estates.

Jaiswal said, as many as 9,60,943 children would be administered de-worming tablets, 2,40,019 children would be brought under Vitamin-A supplementation programme and 10,15,488 children and adolescents would be covered under Iron Folic Acid Supplementation programme under Poshan Abhiyan, the heights and weights of 3,04,503 children (0-6 years) would be monitored, the NHM Mission Director added.

State Immunization Officer Dr Mousumi Sarkar and State Programme Officer Dr. Sanjay Rudra Paul were present at the press conference.

He said, all preparations have already been put in place in the district and block levels to deal with any side effects.

He also highlighted the achievements of the first round of the health drive conducted in September last year. Almost 95 per cent of the target was achieved, covering around 11 lakh children and adolescents.

The concerned health officials appealed to all the students in the target group and their guardians to co-operate for the successful implementation of the health programme.

State Immunization Officer Dr Mousumi Sarkar and State Programme Officer Dr. Sanjay Rudra Paul were present at the press conference.

Several teams comprising of ASHA and Anganwadi workers would be engaged to implement the Mukhyamantri Sustho Shoishob Sustho Kaishore Abhiyan 2.0 for which training has already been provided.

The health programme was discussed in a meeting of the West Tripura District Task Force for immunization on Saturday.