Vijayawada: The central government on Friday undertook a review of the steps being taken to prevent malnutrition among children, reduce the number of maternal and child deaths, increase institutional deliveries and take forward the immunization programmes.
Union cabinet secretary Rajiv Gauba along with health secretary Rajesh Bhushan held a video meeting from Delhi with chief secretaries of AP, Kerala, Rajasthan and Manipur and sought details on matters of Health and Nutrition, which would be discussed in detail at the second national chief secretaries' meeting from January 5 to 7.
During the video conference, AP chief secretary Jawahar Reddy said the government has initiated many innovative health programmes to maintain public health. Measures are being taken to control non-communicable diseases (non-infectious diseases) by setting goals. During the Covid pandemic, the death rate was 10 per cent higher than the normal.
The state CS said 70 per cent of the population in AP has already been screened under the NCD-CD programme. The Ayusman Bharat identity cards have been created for 3.60 crore people while 3.50 crore health cards have been linked with ABDM.
Jawahar Reddy explained to the cabinet secretary that the YSR Health Clinics programme has been given top priority. One village health clinic-cum-HWC has been set up for every 2000-2500 population and full health staff has been appointed.
In addition, about 50 types of medicines have been made available. Similarly, MLHPOs are conducting yoga and wellness programmes, continuously monitoring NCD cases, supplying medicines and providing appropriate guidelines for managing people's lifestyle, he said.
Commissioner of health and family welfare, J Niwas, director of women and child welfare and industries Dr Siri Srijana, World Bank consultant Devaraj and others participated in the video conference.
