Social Welfare Minister Heikham Dingo Singh along with Health and Family Welfare Minister Sapam Ranjan Singh on Wednesday launched the Village Health, Sanitation and Nutrition Day at Sanjenbam Khunou Community Hall, Imphal East.
The launching programme was organised by National Health Mission, Manipur under the 100 Days Action Plan of the new government in celebration of 75 years of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
Heikham Dingo Singh said that even though the programme is to be taken up by the Health department, the Social Welfare department also has a big role as it is interrelated. The most important part of the programme is to create awareness among the villagers on how to remain healthy from birth till death, he said. He appealed to the villagers to know the importance of the programme and avail the benefits provided at the venue of the function.
He said, “For a healthy society, we need to maintain a healthy lifestyle. It can be achieved when we acquire the knowledge of various preventive and promotive aspects of health care and nutrition to protect from various diseases and malnutrition.”
Sapam Ranjan Singh stated that if the schemes taken up by the government for the welfare of the people are not followed properly, it will affect the future generation of the state.
He said that nutrition is a much needed source of a healthy life and one needs to know when and how to consume nutritional diets by pregnant women for the health of both mother and baby. He urged the people, especially the women, to take care of health as their primary duty.
He added that the programme has been held to promote the health care system in the state and asked the people to avail the facilities provided by the government. Further he highlighted the importance of the ASHAs and the Anganwadi workers in creating awareness and educating the people in rural areas for a healthy lifestyle.
He also said that the health care system will be improved if there is awareness on the various aspects and importance of the health sector such as the importance of immunisation, consumption of nutritional diets etc. The government is targeting the grass root development of the primary health care system and if needed co-operation from the various departments of the state will be sought for overall development of the health sector, he added.
Additional chief secretary V Vumlunmang addressing as the special guest, said that the Village Health Sanitation and Nutrition Day (VHSND) is an important programme for creating awareness on health and nutrition. He said that the programme needs to be organised regularly every month to create awareness and provide services regarding health and nutrition. VHSND will be a useful programme as the Health department, National Health Mission and Social Welfare department are collaborating, he added.
A booklet on Village Health, Sanitation and Nutrition Day (VHSND) which includes the schedule for VHSNDs was also released at the launching ceremony.
Stalls providing facilities for ante-natal health check-up, family planning materials, menstrual hygiene, HIV and Hepatitis testing were opened at the site. Also stalls for nutritional diets for the pregnant and lactating mothers were open for counselling and demonstration.
VHSND has been implemented across the country since 2007 as a community platform, connecting the community and health care systems and facilitating convergent actions. It attempts to bring health, early childhood development, and nutrition and sanitation services to the doorstep and promote community engagement for improved health and wellbeing.
MLA Lamlai constituency Kh Ibomcha Singh; director Social Welfare Manipur Ng Uttam Singh; director, Health Services, Manipur K Rajo Singh and mission director, NHM, Manipur Somorjit Ningombam were on the dais as president and guests of honour.
Officials and staffs chief medical officer, Imphal East; National Health Mission; Social Welfare department; Health department; Manipur AIDS Control Society; Representatives of Japeigo; UNICEF; Free Diagnostics Services; ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers and invitees were present at the launching programme among others.
