Swastha Samriddhi Samaroh launched to improve health and nutrition indicators

Our Correspondent

Bongaigaon: To encourage active participation and to improve the attendance of pregnant women, lactating mothers, children and eligible couples on Village Health Nutrition and Sanitation Day (VHSND), Bongaigaon district administration has started a new initiative called Swastha Samriddhi Samaroh. Launched on the occasion of 150th Gandhi Jayanti on October 2, the initiative is the brainchild of Bongaigaon Deputy Commissioner Adil Khan.

To attract more people, especially pregnant women, mothers and children to VHSND, district administration is making it more attractive by turning it into a celebration of good health. This is to continue the momentum generated by Poshan Maah and to increase the participation in VHSND. Cultural programmes on themes of health and nutrition are organized by the Health and ICDS workers to attract and make people aware.

Village Health Nutrition and Sanitation Day is organized at the village AWC once every month on a designated Wednesday. This day has emerged as the interaction day between the community and services providers from the health and nutrition system as well as a platform for providing a package of essential services to the local community. On the designated day, Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) and Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) and other frontline workers mobilise the villagers, especially women and children, to gather at the nearest AWC. VHSNDs allow villagers to interact freely with the frontline workers and avail basic services and information.

After the eventful closure of Poshan Maah in the district of Bongaigaon, the district administration, in association with the District Social Welfare Department and Health and Family Welfare Department, celebrated Village Health Nutrition and Sanitation Day (VHSND) and launched the new initiative of Swastha Samriddhi Samaroh. The Village Health Sanitation and Nutrition Day (VHSND) is a government initiative to improve access to Maternal New born and Child Health (MNCH), nutrition and sanitation services at the village level in India.

Through Swastha Samriddhi Samaroh, various health related messages have been delivered through some cultural events by the frontline workers like AWW, AWS and ANMs. From the day of Gandhi Jayanti, Village Health Nutrition and Sanitation Day will be celebrated as Swastha Samriddhi Samaroh on every Wednesday at scheduled sites of all the rural and urban areas, where issues like child marriage, adolescent health and menstruation hygiene will also be discussed.

The Deputy Commissioner of Bongaigaon urged all the stakeholders to cooperate in successful celebration of Swastha Samriddhi Samaroh so that each pregnant women and lactating mother receives quality ANC and PNC and children receive all scheduled vaccines and other services on time.

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