E-Paper
Govt risks health of urban poor women
The State Government and its implementing agencies have become so much focussed on improving the health of women and children in rural areas that the health of women in urban slums has almost become secondary. The fresh example of the government's apathy towards women's health in urban slums is the delay in launching the first phase of the 'Urban Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) Programme'.
The State Government and its implementing agencies have become so much focussed on improving the health of women and children in rural areas that the health of women in urban slums has almost become secondary.
The fresh example of the government's apathy towards women's health in urban slums is the delay in launching the first phase of the 'Urban Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) Programme'. The Urban RCH programme for Allahabad city which was scheduled to complete by December 2005, is yet to take off, even after seven months.
The five main components were outlined in the Urban RCH workplan for spreading awareness about women's health, child care, routine immunisation and other aspects of family welfare.
These components were setting up of district health and family welfare authority (DHFWA) office, need based strengthening of urban family welfare centres, establishment of two mobile medical units for extensive slum coverage, demand creation through community support, IEC and training and involvement of NGOs.
The first phase of the programme was scheduled to start from August 1 and complete by December 31, 2005.
But even after seven months the programme is yet to see the light of the day. Neither the DHFWA offices have been set up nor two mobile medical units have been established for urban slums. The IEC activities including wall writing are also yet to be decided.
Chief medical officer Dr Shantimal Singhavi said the programme got delayed at the government level. The deadline for the completion of first phase of Urban RCH is now December 2006.
The training of DUDA workers has already started. "In the first batch about 125 DUDA workers were trained who will work like 'Asha' for providing health care services to women in Urban slums," he said.
Dr Singhavi said the society has also formed for its implementation. The programme is expected to start within a next few days, he added.
