KOHIMA, OCTOBER 20: A regional orientation workshop for Field Officers on Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCH+A) with special focus on Mission Indradhanush, Population Stabilization, Beti Bachao Beto Padhao and Anaemia among adolescent girls was organised by the Directorate of Field Publicity, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting Regional Office, Nagaland & Manipur, on October 20 at Circuit House, Kohima.
Home Commissioner and Commissioner & Secretary of Health & Family Welfare and the chief guest, Abhijit Sinha, said importance of health should be targeted to all age groups as all are linked to another. He stressed on the importance of child vaccination under Mission Indradhanush with special focus to seven vaccines to alleviate the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR).
Talking about the IMR in Nagaland, which is above the national level, he said intervention of the missions will supplement in the stabilising IMR of the state.Citing the low sex ratio of the state in comparison to the national level, he said improving it should be a matter of concern. In this regard, he said Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, a tri-ministerial effort of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Ministry of Human Resource Development and Ministry of Women and Child Development, has been introduced to create awareness and improve the efficiency of services meant for women.
In regard to population stability, he said an increase in population conversely decreases economic capacity. He therefore, said a healthy and stable population should be maintained. He also cited the importance of media in the propagation of the programmes and policies being implemented in the health sector by various departments to a larger audience.
Director of Health & Family Welfare and guest of honour, Dr. Bendangyanger, spoke on the objective of the workshop which was to update the knowledge and equip the Field Officers on RMNCH+A (launched in 2013) with special focus on addressing the mortality among women and children.
He stressed on the importance of investing in the mother and child care saying, “only a healthy mother is likely to give birth to a healthy baby,” which is also one of the most acceptable international and national strategies. He mentioned that districts such as Tuensang, Mon, Wokha and Kiphire have been identified under this programme.
In a keynote address, Director of Directorate of Filed Publicity, Kohima, Dr. Engam Pame said the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, has initiated a new media strategy called Special Media Campaign on RMNCH+A with special focus on Mission Indradhanush, Population Stabilisation, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and Anaemia among Adolescent girls. Stating that vast areas in the rural and remote areas do not have access to information regarding developmental programmes of the government, Dr. Engam said the Department of Field Publicity serves the medium to fill in the gaps.
Function president, Dr. Nungsangtemjen Ao, in his presidential address, said the three important health goals to be achieved by the year 2017 according to the 12th Five Year Plan was relevant to RMNCH+A. He, therefore, said Field Officers, who form an important component in the wheel of the programme, should be well equipped, updated and well versed with every facet of the programme.
P Sophie, FPO, Churachandpur, was the moderator of the programme, while the welcome song was presented by Women Department of Kohima Zeme Baptist Church and vote of thanks was delivered by Robin Kashungnao, FPO, Ukhrul.
In the technical session, resource persons were Dr. Obangjungla, Deputy Director (RCH), Directorate of Health & Family Welfare; R Juliana Medom, Assistant State Coordinator, State Resource Centre for Women Nagaland; and Kindson Kamkara, Senior Project Officer, UNDP, Nagaland. The chairperson was K Sonikumar Singh, FPO Chandel.
