Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 84/14

RASTRIYA KISHOR SWASTHYA KARYAKRAM LAUNCHED IN THE STATE

Shillong, February 27, 2014: Meghalaya is the second state in the country after Haryana to implement Rastriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK) at the official function held today where Meghalaya Health Minister, Mr. A L Hek launched this programme at Hotel Pinewood, Shillong followed by one day State Level Workshop on RKSK .

The vision of RKSK is to make all adolescents in India to realize their full potential by making informed and responsible decisions related to their health and well being and by accessing the services and support they need to do so. For this the support from the government and other institutions is needed, including the health, education, and labour sectors as well as adolescents’ families and communities.

While addressing the gathering, Mr. A L Hek informed that this program will comprehensively address the health needs of the country’s adolescent population. He insisted that those involved in this programme need to frame out strategies so that it reaches the target group and also to work with dedication for the successful implementation of the scheme.

Mr. Hek also expressed the need for convergence with other line departments like Social Welfare, Education, Sports & Youth Affairs, Women and Child Development, NGOs and others in order to implement this scheme successfully across the state.

Dr. Sushma Dureja, Deputy Commissioner, RKSK, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW), stated that the health needs of 243 million adolescents of the country will be benefitted by this programme. The programme defines an adolescent as a person within 10-19 years of age, in urban and rural areas, includes both boys and girls, married and unmarried, poor and affluent, whether they are in school or out of school, she added.

Dr. Dureja said that considering the diverse nature of adolescent health needs, issues and concerns, the current policy will incorporate in these areas such as nutrition, sexual and reproductive health, mental health, preventing injuries and violence, substance misuse.

Secretary, Health & Family Welfare, Government of Meghalaya, Mr. K W Marbaniang in his keynote address remarked that according to National Family Health Survey-3, 56 percent of girls and 30 percent of boys aged 15-19 years are anaemic. He enlightened the participants about the detailed health scenario of the country and about the importance of health.