In a bid to catch health problems early among children, the government plans to introduce free screening of children up to the age of 18 years at the government healthcare centres. UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi will launch the new scheme-Rashtriya Shishu Suraksha Karyakram at Thane in Maharashtra on February 6.
Initially, the government plans to pump-in `22 crores on the screening scheme. The proposed scheme has been designed close on the heels of government’s earlier system of screening adult males above 30 years and pregnant women of all age groups for diabetes and hypertension.
In a meeting of consultative committee of Parliament on Friday Union health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said that “the government of India is soon going to initiate comprehensive medical check-ups for all school going children and even those who are out of schools.”
To run the scheme, a mobile team of doctors and other supporting staff has already been granted to the states for implementation of universal screening of children. The programme, health minister said, will cover about 13 crores adolescents. Besides, universal supplementation of iron and folic acid will also be initiated to overcome the burden of anaemia among the adolescents. The scheme is proposed to be introduced in high focus states initially and then would be spread across to all parts of the country during the 12th five year plan.
Senior officials in the health ministry said that the initiative will help catching the diseases young and will help in the early diagnosis and treatment.
“The future of the country lies with today’s children and adolescents. It is therefore very important to keep them healthy. Mass screening will help in early diagnosis of diseases and will also give a clear picture of the prevalence of the diseases among the adolescents in India. This will also help in designing the other adolescent related government programmes in a better way,” said an official.