Punjab Government on Monday introduced a digitised healthcare card for all school students in the state which will make them eligible for free treatment of 30 life-threatening diseases. Introducing this “comprehensive full profile digitised healthcare cards”, the state Health and Family Welfare Minister Surjit Kumar Jayani said that over 15 lakh children in 26,115 Anganwadi Centres and over 29 lakh children in 19,999 schools across the state would be issued cards under this project.
A full body check-up of all students would be conducted every three months and they would be provided free treatment for 30 life threatening diseases. State Principal Secretary (Health and Finance) Vini Mahajan informed that dedicated medical teams have been formed at all the block levels for carrying out free medical check-ups of all the children of up to 18 years old, studying in government and government aided schools of Punjab as well as Anganwadi centres in the state.
Each team comprising two medical officers, one pharmacist and one staff nurse shall conduct check-up twice a year. She said that children, who are found suffering with any ailment, shall be referred to the nearest government hospitals for further treatment. All children in government and aided schools and Anganwadi centres shall also be examined for 30 different kinds of major diseases and ailments including cancer, heart diseases, ENT, dental, eye and psychiatric issues and any child found suffering with any of these diseases will be given free of cost treatment in the government or government empanelled hospitals, she said.
Mahajan said that it has been observed that nearly six per cent children are suffering with weak eyesight and therefore special arrangement are being made for thorough eye check-up of such children. School teachers are also being sensitised to recognise primary indications of weak eye sight among children so that as and when required ophthalmic officers could be sent to schools for check-ups and providing free spectacles to children detected with weak eye sight.
Mahajan said stated that already 95 percent children of 1.5 years age are being immunized in the state, whereas with regard to immunization of children in the age group of 5-10 years, some further initiatives have been planned. “Instructions are being given to the school authorities to seek the immunization status of a child from parents at the time of admission in school. If any child is not immunized, the child shall be got immunized at Mamta Diwas camp held on Wednesday in his or her own village. These dedicated medical teams visiting the schools shall also ensure that no child remains un-immunized in the schools in their area,” she said. She said it has also been felt that such immunization related record for all children studying in private schools should also be maintained.