MPs, journalists bat for child healthcare

Journalists and members of parliament (MPs) played a cricket match Saturday to spread the message of child health.

The match "Batting For Life" was played to highlight the right of every child to life and good health.

The MPs were led by Hamirpur MP Anurag Thakur and the journalists by Javed Ansari, National Affairs Editor of Headlines Today, at Delhi Public School, Mathura Road to raise their collective voice against the silent killers pneumonia and diarrhoea, which kill more than 1.7 million children under five around the world every year.

Half a million of these child deaths occur in India.

Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha and Delhi and District Cricket Association president Arun Jaitley watched the game along with other political leaders.

"Our children are our future. The several programmes initiated by my ministry to save the children and ensure a better quality of life through accessible, affordable and equitable healthcare are being acclaimed globally," said Azad.