Health check up of children in early age is not much prevalent in rural areas despite the fact that we have strong ICDS services for age group 6 months to 6 years conducting regular growth chart monitoring through weighment and check up by trained AWW and health workers and school health programmes in schools. Early detection defects of vision, dental, skin diseases and respiratory problems associated with lungs and cardiac can be cured/ rectified in most of the cases.
In Burdwan district time bound health check up was conducted by dedicated teams formed by administration mobilising large number of health personnel and medical officers from Govt and Private hospitals. It took six months for Sarva Siksha Mission Teams to complete the check up/ screening of 9.74 lakhs children in 5169 schools. During the initial check up 102478 children were detected having ailments of different nature, dental 23 %, ENT 14 %, Eye/ vision 13 %, Skin diseases 3 %.
12521 children were detected with serious health problems and were examined by team of specialists and it is found that 3612 of these children were critical having cardiac, kidney, respiratory disorders that needs surgical interventions/ medical treatment by specialists. While, arrangements were made to provide free treatment to all children with ailments at Govt and Private hospitals out of Sarva Siksha Mission funds and RSBY facilities in Private hospitals, there are more than 100 cases where major operation is required. All these cases are related to cardiac disorders, kidney problems etc.
We submitted a special project proposal to NRHM under innovative activities category last year. After the intervention of Health Department of West Bengal Govt, GOI sanctioned Rs 75 lakhs for surgical treatment of these children at the rates applicable to Govt employees under WBHS 2008 for such treatments. Its only sanction of this nature accorded to any district authority under NRHM and we feel that the special initiative with unique approach of inclusive tracking has been recognised by NRHM.
Already private hospital and Govt hospitals have been approached for surgeries of the identified children as per the dates fixed by their parents and in the hospital of their choice. Sanction letter have been issued to them by name assuring full reimbursement of cost. A large number of children availed eye surgery/ corrective measures in hospitals. Cardiac surgery of eight children of Katwa Sub Division is scheduled next week at Durgapur, where cost of surgery upto Rs 1.2 lakhs per child has been sanctioned. We hope to complete the treatment/ surgery of all identified children in next four months. We are happy to intervene and give them good health. Lets wish them all the best for their health and take the pledge to promote health check up in early age.
Next, health screening of ICDS kids is going on. So far, 5100 kids have been found with health problems and being taken care by doctors.
