National Child Health Program Approved in Urban Area

• 10 Nov 2022

Why In News?

• On November 9, 2022, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brijesh Pathak informed that the National Health Mission has approved the operation of the National Child Health Program (RBSK) in urban areas. Under this, congenital diseases of children will be identified and treated.

Key Points

• Deputy Chief Minister Brijesh Pathak said that in the first phase, the scheme will be implemented in 15 districts of the state. In the second phase, 16 more districts will be included.
• Under the first phase, National Child Health Program will be implemented in the year 2020-21 in Agra, Aligarh, Prayagraj, Bareilly, Ayodhya, Firozabad, Ghaziabad, Gorakhpur, Jhansi, Kanpur Nagar, Lucknow, Meerut, Moradabad, Saharanpur and Varanasi.
• A total of 40 mobile health teams will be kept in 15 districts. Each team will have four members. In which one woman and one man will be AYUSH doctors. About 60 doctors and paramedical staff will be recruited on contract.
• In the second phase, in 2022-2023, child health program will be started in Azamgarh, Banda, Barabanki, Bulandshahr, Chandauli, Farrukhabad, Fatehpur, Gonda, Hathras, Jalaun, Kushinagar, Mathura, Mirzapur, Rampur, Shahjahanpur and Sitapur.
• It is noteworthy that under RBSK, child health screening and screening in Early Intervention Services is done, in which other diseases including cleft lip, palate, neural tube defects, Down syndrome, anemia, vitamin A-D deficiency, malnutrition, congenital cataract and heart are identified.
• Under the program, children up to 18 years of age are identified and provided treatment for certain diseases. Under the scheme, the mobile health team will visit the identified places and check the health of the children. In case of illness, referral will be made to higher government institutions for treatment so that timely treatment can be given.