There is an urgent need to synergise the health and education department for successful implementation of Rashtriya Kishore Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK), said the Assistant Commissioner Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Government of India, Zoya Rizvi while addressing a regional review workshop of RKSK on Monday.
She said that the RKSK is an important project of National Health Mission aimed to improve nutrition, sexual and reproductive health, enhance mental health, prevent injuries, violence and prevent substance misuse among 10 to 19 age group adolescents. She said that the project involves inclusion of parents, schools and teachers in improving health of adolescents. Rizvi elaborated on operational framework, strategy and implementation of the project.
She said that the Ministry of Health and family welfare offers financial and technical support for the project.
Speaking on the occasion the secretary health, Dr Bhupendra Kaur Olakh said that the education department and Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) project officers need to charter a clear cut process for implementation of RKSK in the State. She, however, added that the programme would be successful only by highly active involvement of health department. Dr Olakh said that apart from RKSK the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) should be on the priority list of department.
She stressed on the need of re-evaluation of the programme so that children suffering from heart diseases are included in the project. Free treatment of the school children suffering from malnutrition and some critical disease is offered under the RKSK.