HEALTH FOR GIRLS

First in state : Health awareness drive among girl students

COOCH BEHAR, Dec. 5: A unique health awareness drive among adolescent girl students began in Cooch Behar district today. At the first phase the programme will be implemented in three blocks out of twelve blocks. The three blocks are Sitalkuchi, Sitai and Mathabhanga-I. The additional district magistrate (development) of Cooch Behar, Mr Pannalal Mahapatra claimed it as first of its kind in this state. The programme is expected to be completed in all high schools by next June, he hoped.

 

Today, the health awareness programme was held at Gopinath High School in Sitalkuchi of Mathabhanga sub-division. In 1600 students the programme was aimed at 882 girl students. Here, seven doctors in association with 22 health personnel engaged them in examining the health of the girls. The programme will continue till tomorrow. After getting examined all the girls will be entitled to receive health cards. In a card there will be the photograph of the girl concerned. Health details like age, height, weight, blood pressure, blood group, condition of eyes etc and remedy advices if needed for further treatment will also be in the card. Mr Mahapatra said it would be very beneficial for the girls in future.

 

District primary school council chairman Md Nuruddin Mian and district project officer of Sarva Shiksha Mission Md Amanul Ahsan, secretary of Vivekananda Seva Kendra (VSK) Mr Raja Das were present today. Cooch Behar district administration is conducting the programme with financial assistance from Sarva Shiksha Mission. Vivekananda Seva Kendra, Kolkata, was entrusted to implement the plan.

 

As a part of the awareness drive the organisers arranged puppet shows. Guardians were also invited to attend the camp. As Sitalkuchi is a remote area the locals enjoyed the performance of the talking dolls. The talking dolls highlighted the importance of washing of hands, regular cleaning of nails and other preventive healthcare habits. Impressed by today's programme, the headmaster of the Gopinath High School, Mr Mrityunjay Banik opined that not only the girl students but their guardians too learnt many healthy things.

 

Mr Biswajit Sau of the VSK said they would conduct the programme in each school for one or two days. Already they have been running a health clinic at Jamaldaha since May 2007 that received a good response from the locals, he said. []