A meeting of the State Coordination Committee for Adolescent Health was held today at the Committee Room, UT Secretariat, Chandigarh, under the chairmanship of Sh. Mandip Singh Brar, IAS, Secretary Health, U.T. Chandigarh, to review the implementation and progress of various adolescent health programmes under the National Health Mission (NHM).
The meeting focused on key initiatives including National Deworming Day (NDD), Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK), School Health and Wellness Programme (SHWP), Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB), and Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK). The meeting was attended by the Deputy Commissioner, U.T. Chandigarh; Director Health Services-cum-MD, NHM; Project Director, State AIDS Control Society; Director School Education; representatives from PGIMER, including the Department of Community Medicine & School of Public Health and the Department of Social Paediatrics, APC; and representatives from the Social Welfare Department.
During the meeting, Secretary Health reviewed the achievements and coverage of activities being undertaken under the various programmes. A detailed presentation on programme activities and progress was delivered by the Programme Officer, RBSK.
Secretary Health also reviewed the burden of diseases among adolescents and stressed the need for strengthening awareness and preventive interventions. He suggested organising training sessions for School Nodal Teachers under the Peer Educator Programme to further enhance outreach and engagement among adolescents.
To improve outcomes under Anaemia Mukt Bharat, he also suggested fixing a dedicated day and time in schools for the consumption of Iron and Folic Acid tablets. Further, he directed that a survey on Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis (STH) be conducted in coordination with PGIMER, Chandigarh.
The meeting concluded with an emphasis on enhanced inter-departmental coordination and sustained efforts towards improving the health and well-being of children and adolescents in Chandigarh under NHM programmes.