Earlier schemes were confined only to sexual and reproductive health, say health officials
The Union health ministry on
Tuesday launched a community-intervention based health programme for
adolescents. The programme, named Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram
(RKSK), aims at delivering services to youth from urban and rural areas,
poor and affluent background and also to those in school or out of
school.
The Union health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, during the launch of the
scheme in Delhi, said that the programme will comprehensively address
the health needs of 243 million adolescents, who account for over 21 per
cent of the country’s population.
Earlier schemes for adolescents were confined to sexual and
reproductive health only, that too only for girls and available only at
select government facilities. But the new scheme, officials claim, will
bring in several new dimensions like mental health, nutrition, substance
misuse, gender-based violence and non-communicable diseases. The scheme
is for boys and girls, both.
‘From doctor-driven to participative model’
According to health secretary Keshav Desiraju, the programme is an
effort to move away from a “doctor-driven” effort and towards a holistic
and participative programme. “RKSK recognises that all adolescents need
attention even before the occurrence of any disease or problem, and for
making informed decisions and choices,” said the official. “We should
learn from the experiences of ASHA workers. I hope the new programme
will invest sufficient time and money to train the peer-educators,” he
added. ASHA workers are the officials appointed under NRHM as Accredited
Social Health Activists.
‘Change in behavior prevention against diseases’
Additional secretary and mission director of National Rural Health
Mission (NRHM), Anuradha Sharma said that though adolescents are
generally healthy, there are many diseases which have their root in
behaviours acquired at this age. So, intervening on health issues in
this phase of life can leave a considerable impact.
Providing treatment against non-communicable diseases like cancer and
others is going to be tough even for rich countries in future. So,
prevention is the best thing and that can be achieved through changes in
behaviour. With this objective, the administration has planned to
provide facilities for adolescents in the country.
The health official also explained that lifestyle and behaviour-related
diseases such as substance abuse, inflicting self harm, tendency towards
gender-based violence, low nutrition and physical inactivity begin and
occur more during this phase. They are becoming the causes for the
highest mortality in this age group. “In the coming years, seven out of
ten deaths in developing countries will occur due to non-communicable
diseases,” added Anuradha Gupta.
According to officials, active use of new technologies and social
media platforms will form an integral part of the programme that aims to
reach adolescents in their own spaces, with strategic partnerships with
communities and peers.
