As a part of nation-wide sanitation campaign under Swachh Bharat Mission, Minister for Health & Medical Education, Bali Bhagat launched “Swachhata Pakhwara” (Cleanliness Fortnight) under the slogan “Swachhata Se Siddhi” from Government Gandhi Nagar Hospital here today.This state-wide special campaign (Ist April to 15th April) has been organized by the State National Health Mission (NHM) in collaboration with Directorate of Health Services, Family Welfare and CCDU of PHE Department. The programme will cover all Government run health institutions across the state and a massive cleanliness drive will be carried out with the active involvement of various social/religious and non-governmental organizations.Speaking on the occasion, the health minister said that Prime Minister, Narendra Modi under a special initiative had launched a nation-wide sanitation campaign on 2nd of October, 2014 with an objective to make the country clean and sanitized, with special focus on government hospitals, public places like railway stations, bus stands, schools etc and since then this campaign has become popular and being observed every year on different themes and slogans.He said sanitation is mandatory for leading a healthy life and it is the collective duty of all stakeholders of the society to contribute for this noble cause and ensure cleanliness not only in their homes and surroundings, but in public places as well to ensure neat and clean environment. He called upon all sections of the society, including NGOs, social/organizations to draw up a special plan to undertake the awareness activities on sanitation across the State for which the state Government will extend necessary support, he asserted.
On this auspicious occasion, the Minister administered “Swachhata Pledge” to the audience and urged them to create awareness in the society on the cleanliness and hygiene to ensure neat and clean atmosphere for healthy life. He also launched a plantation drive by planting saplings in the premises of hospital. He also called for preservation of environment and natural resources through different mediums like print, electronic media and by organizing special seminars, awareness camps in schools so that the entire society awake and contribute for this noble mission. He said the programme should not be symbolic, but a practical on ground.Giving details of the activities to be carried out during the sanitation fortnight, Mission Director, NHM, Dr. Yashpal Sharma said that a well-knit plan of things has been drawn up in collaboration with other organizations, under which all hospitals across the state will be covered. The teams have been framed to supervise the activities in all hospitals and creating awareness among the general masses. He said the awareness campaign on sanitation has already been started by the NHM through different means like installation of hoardings with special slogans at prominent public places, FM radio/doordarshan, print and electronic media, nukkad programmes on regular basis.The artists of Sargam Club Samba entertained the audience with their mesmerizing performance through skits andnukkad natak and given effective message on sanitation and preservation of environment and natural resources.Prominent among those present on the occasion included, Director Family Welfare, Dr. Sameer Mattoo, Deputy Director Health (HQs), Dr. Chander Prakash, CMO, Jammu, Dr. Sanjay Turki, Medical Superintendents Gandhi Nagar hospital, Dr. ADS Manhas, MS, SSH, Dr. Arun Sharma, social activists, large number of doctors, para-medics, ASHA workers and functionaries of NHM and CCDU.