Govt to launch campaign next week on women's health

The Health Ministry will launch a three-day nationwide campaign next week as part of its initiative towards ensuring better health for women in the country and to mark the International Women's Day.

"Under the initiative, special health check-up camps will be held at the district hospitals, sub-district hospitals (SDHs) and Community Health Centres (CHCs) on three days - March 8-10. These will offer free of charge health check-up to all women, including pregnant women across the country," Health Minister J P Nadda said in a statement.

He said that his Ministry is committed to bettering health of women and this initiative will go a long way in helping it reach this objective, adding that it will organise various activities to mark the International Women's Day which falls on March 8.
 

He said that the CHCs, SDHs and district hospitals will screen and carry out necessary investigation of all the women who visit during the three days and treatment will be provided free of cost if required.

"All women aged 40-60 years will be screened for breast cancer and between 30-60 years for cervical cancer," the Minister said.

Nadda said that the antenatal and postnatal care services will also be provided and Mother and Child Protection (MCP) cards will be issued to the women.

"Identified high-risk pregnant women will be flagged on the MCP cards. If needed, such cases will be referred to higher-level health facilities. Family Planning services will also be offered free of cost at the camps," he said.

He said that the women will be counseled on birth preparedness, danger signs during pregnancy, nutrition, institutional delivery and Post-Partum Family Planning (PPFP), care during pregnancy and postnatal care, breastfeeding and complementary feeding, importance of nutrition and a host of other things.

In Delhi, such health check-up camps are also being organised at RML and Safdarjung hospitals. In addition, one ASHA worker will be felicitated in each block in the states for her contribution to women's empowerment and community healthcare, Nadda said.