Media Release
Udupi, Dec 5: The deputy commissioner (DC) Dr K Vidyakumari has instructed that pregnant women should be provided with a 'Mother Card' at the beginning of their pregnancy and regular health check-ups should be conducted, along with providing information on nutritious food and other essential details. She addressed this at the district-level mother mortality review committee meeting, the district immunization task force meeting, and the National Deworming Day coordination committee meeting held on Tuesday at the deouty commissioner’s office in Manipal.
She emphasized that all healthcare professionals and staff should provide quality health services to prevent maternal and child mortality. She also stressed the importance of informing pregnant women and new mothers about government schemes available to them, ensuring they benefit from these services. Additionally, they should be provided with information on proper child care.
During health check-ups for children in schools and Anganwadis under the child protection programme, if any child requires further treatment, parents should be informed and guided to receive free treatment, and the relevant government program details should be shared. It is also important to ensure that children receive the necessary treatment.
She further mentioned that information regarding the universal vaccines provided to new-borns should be communicated to mothers and the general public to ensure all children receive their full vaccination schedule. She pointed out that the vaccination rates for children were as follows: 87.24% for children under 5 years, 62.16% for children under 10 years, and 55.43% for children under 16 years. These percentages are low, and the goal is to achieve 100% vaccination coverage.
National Deworming Day will be observed on December 9, and 'Mop-up Day' will take place on December 16. Deworming tablets will be administered to all children aged 1 to 19 years through Anganwadis, schools, colleges, and industrial training and vocational institutions. All concerned departments have been instructed to take necessary actions. She also stressed the need for the health department, along with other departments, to work together to ensure the successful distribution of deworming tablets.
The meeting was attended by district health and family welfare officer Dr I P Gadhad, district RCH officer Dr Jyotsna B K, family welfare officer Dr Rama Rao, District leprosy officer Dr Latha Naik, DSO Dr Nagarathna, health officials from various departments, taluk health officers, and others.