SDM Vishwanath calls anaemia a serious public health and social challenge; health, education, women and child development departments asked to work in close coordination
JAGADHRI | PEN OF DEMOCRACY NEWS DESK
The Jagadhri administration has intensified efforts to tackle anaemia, which is increasingly emerging as a major obstacle to the physical and mental development of children and adolescents. To ensure the effective implementation of the Anaemia Mukt Haryana Programme at the grassroots level, a meeting of the Sub-Divisional Coordination Committee (SDCCM) was held in Jagadhri under the chairmanship of SDM Vishwanath.
The meeting brought together key officials from the Health Department, Education Department and Women and Child Development Department, along with representatives of private schools. The discussions focused on strengthening coordination among different stakeholders to ensure timely identification, treatment and prevention of anaemia among children and adolescents.
Addressing the meeting, SDM Vishwanath said that anaemia should not be viewed merely as a medical condition but as a serious social and public health challenge that can affect the overall growth and development of young people. He stressed that the problem cannot be effectively addressed by any single department working in isolation.
According to the SDM, a coordinated and sustained approach involving the health, education and women and child development departments, along with active participation from private educational institutions, is essential to achieving the objectives of the Anaemia Mukt Haryana campaign.
He said all concerned departments and schools must function as a coordinated team to ensure that children and adolescents are screened in time and those found to have low haemoglobin levels receive appropriate medical advice and treatment.
As part of the administration’s strategy, SDM Vishwanath issued directions to principals and headmasters of all private schools falling under the Jagadhri sub-division to ensure haemoglobin testing of every student enrolled in their institutions. The testing is to be carried out in coordination with teams from the Health Department.
The move is aimed at ensuring the early identification of students who may be affected by anaemia and require medical intervention. The administration believes that systematic screening can help detect cases at an early stage and allow students to receive necessary guidance and treatment without delay.
SDM Vishwanath said the Haryana government’s Anaemia Mukt Haryana campaign places special emphasis on the timely identification, treatment and prevention of anaemia among children and adolescents. He said ensuring the health and well-being of young people is among the administration’s key priorities.
The SDM made it clear that the campaign would not be limited to conducting haemoglobin tests alone. Equal importance would be given to follow-up action and treatment for students found to have haemoglobin levels below the normal range.
He directed that students identified with low haemoglobin levels during screening should be promptly connected with the nearest health institution or medical team for appropriate counselling, examination and treatment. The objective, he said, is to ensure that cases detected during school-level screening do not remain limited to data collection but are followed up with necessary healthcare support.
The administration has also sought the cooperation of private schools in making the campaign effective. SDM Vishwanath appealed to school managements, principals and teachers to treat the initiative as a priority in the larger interest of public health and the future of students.
He said educational institutions have an important role to play in supporting health awareness among children and adolescents. Schools can help ensure that parents and students are informed about the importance of timely health check-ups and medical intervention wherever required.
The meeting underlined the importance of close coordination between school authorities and Health Department teams during the haemoglobin testing exercise. Private schools have been asked to extend full cooperation so that testing can be carried out systematically and without disruption.
The administration also emphasised the need for coordinated planning among all departments associated with the campaign. The Health Department is expected to play a central role in conducting tests, providing medical guidance and connecting affected students with appropriate treatment facilities.
The Education Department, meanwhile, will have an important role in facilitating the implementation of the programme in schools and ensuring the participation of educational institutions. The Women and Child Development Department is also expected to contribute to awareness and outreach efforts related to the prevention and management of anaemia.
SDM Vishwanath said the collective participation of government departments, schools, healthcare teams and the wider community would be essential to achieving the goal of an anaemia-free Haryana.
He stressed that improving the health of children and adolescents is directly linked to their ability to grow, learn and participate effectively in educational and social activities. The administration, therefore, intends to treat the campaign as a coordinated public health initiative rather than a routine departmental exercise.
During the meeting, officials discussed the need to ensure effective implementation of the programme across the Jagadhri sub-division. The focus remained on identifying students at risk, ensuring timely medical support and creating awareness about the importance of maintaining healthy haemoglobin levels.
The administration expects the participation of every private school in the sub-division to help expand the reach of the campaign. School authorities have been asked to establish proper coordination with health teams and facilitate the testing of all students.
SDM Vishwanath said that the success of the Anaemia Mukt Haryana Programme would depend on sustained cooperation and timely action. He called upon all concerned departments and educational institutions to work with a sense of collective responsibility and contribute actively towards protecting the health and future of children and adolescents.
With directions now issued for comprehensive haemoglobin screening in private schools, the Jagadhri administration is seeking to strengthen early detection and treatment mechanisms under the Anaemia Mukt Haryana campaign. The initiative is expected to bring health screening closer to students and ensure that those requiring medical attention are connected with appropriate healthcare services at the earliest.
The administration reiterated that the campaign would focus not only on identifying anaemia but also on ensuring counselling, treatment, awareness and follow-up support. Through coordinated action involving the Health Department, Education Department, Women and Child Development Department and private educational institutions, Jagadhri aims to contribute to the broader goal of making Haryana healthier and reducing the impact of anaemia on children and adolescents.
POD/DESK
