Amandeep Kaur, a student of Class 8 at a government school, finally got rid of her heart ailemnt. Thanks to the school health programme under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), under which she underwent a heart surgery for free of cost. Like Amandeep, a number of other government school students of Mansa district, have undergone free surgeries for different ailments. Notably, NRHM school health programme is a joint venture of the Centre and the state government with contributions at a ratio of 75:25, respectively.
The district health officials on the instructions of Mansa deputy commissioner have launched an awareness campaign in schools for registration of schoolchildren with health problems, so that they can benefit under the programme.
More than 25 schoolchildren suffering from congenital heart defects (hole in heart) that includes Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) and Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) have been treated under the programme in the last two years, whereas 16 others were undergoing specialised treatment at some premier institutes.
Last year, too, the district health department treated 46 schoolchildren having eye, hearing and speech impairment under the school health programme.
The only concern of the beneficiary students' families is the follow-up treatment after surgeries, including cost of medicines, angiographies, tests etc., which they have to beat on their own.
District health officer Jagjiwan Singh Mansa said, “Students of government schools up to 20 years of age are eligible for free treatment in eight smile train patron hospitals across the state, while the children admitted with anganwadi too can avail free treatment.”
{{/usCountry}}District health officer Jagjiwan Singh Mansa said, “Students of government schools up to 20 years of age are eligible for free treatment in eight smile train patron hospitals across the state, while the children admitted with anganwadi too can avail free treatment.”
{{/usCountry}}Deputy commissioner Amit Dhaka said, “Under the school health programme, 99 schoolchildren of Mansa district, who had serious ailments or handicaps, had been treated, while 25 students had undergone heart surgeries. The travel and food expenses to the parents of students under SSA are also given once the treatment begins. The treatment for diseases like cancer, CHD, RHD is available for students of government schools while treatment for paralysis is offered to students of private schools too. Instructions to all the health officials have been given to create more awareness so that no child with ailment goes without treatment.”
Harmander Singh, father of Amandeep Kaur of Burj Hari village said, “My daughter studies in government high school of the village and she used to get tired even after doing little work and play. It was only three months back it came to our knowledge that she is suffering from a heart disease and the treatment would be costly, but the district health officials here took pains and the treatment was done free of cost under some government scheme. Doctors had advised us not to send her to school till she was fully recovered. We have to purchase the medicines on own, which are costing us around Rs 5,000 per month.”