NE states review progress of Family Planning

Dimapur, Dec. 21 (EMN): A daylong “regional review workshop” on matters of family planning for the north-eastern states was conducted on Dec. 20 at Hotel Vivor at Kohima town. Officials from various districts of Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Nagaland are understood to have attended the event. The mission director of the National Health Mission (NHM) of Nagaland Dr. Limaakum Jamir called upon the gathering to take full opportunity of the occasion and ‘clarify all confusions, share problems and seek for solutions and direction from the government officials’ attending the workshop. The commissioner-secretary of Nagaland’s department of Health & Family Welfare R Ramakrishnan also addressed the event. He said that health being everybody’s concern, ‘We should take all the angles into consideration while delivering the service to the people.’ He spoke also about the importance of roping-in all stakeholders especially the churches to spread awareness about the importance of family planning among the people through all possible platforms with ownership.’ The deputy director of the Ministry of Health & Family Planning Dr.SK Sikdar addressed the event as well. He mentioned that the government of India ‘very concerned and has a soft corner for the north-eastern states, taking into account the constraints being faced from different corners.’ The official explained also that the objective is welfare of the mother and child. ‘We have to improve on all the components of the RCH and not concentrate on only one aspect as everything is co-related.’ Dr. Sikdar gave a presentation about where the states stood in terms of Family Planning Programs and ‘where we need to improve upon.’ He highlighted also new initiatives by the govt. of India through Family Planning platforms.