Smriti Irani, the Union Minister for Women and Child Development, said on September 6 that the health of pregnant women should be a family duty.
She also emphasised the importance of healthy nutrition while speaking at Poshan Jagrukta Abhiyaan (nutrition awareness campaign) programmes for women from minority communities organised by the Union Ministry for Women and Child Development and the Union Ministry for Minority Affairs.
“Discussions on maternal health are no longer confined to women. Nowadays, men are also thinking about women's health. Pregnant women’s health should be a joint responsibility of the family,” she said.
Ms. Irani and Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi interacted with members of diverse communities throughout the day-long event.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to Ms. Irani, has transformed women's issues into a social issue.
“If we want to be able to tell the world that not a single child in India suffers from malnutrition, then it is important for members from all communities to come forward,” Ms. Irani said.
Mr. Naqvi stated that health and hygiene, which had previously been overlooked, are now the cornerstones of the Modi-led government's result-oriented priority programme.
Mr. Naqvi stated that the central government has been working on a war footing to give the people with inexpensive and high-quality health care.
According to him, the National Digital Health Mission was launched on August 15 of last year with the goal of providing a health ID to every Indian. “The Jan Arogya Yojana has offered free medical treatment to almost 2.11 crore people,” he added, adding that 15 new AIIMS have been sanctioned since 2014.
“Over 8,000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras across the country are giving medicines at affordable prices to the poor,” the BJP leader said. “About four crore children were vaccinated against various diseases under Mission Indradhanush,” he added.
“While a year ago there was a lack of adequate resources in India to tackle a pandemic, the country is now self-reliant in coronavirus vaccines, testing kits, medical oxygen and Covid-19 hospitals, he said. The world’s largest free coronavirus vaccination drive is going on in India, where over 69 crore people have been vaccinated,” he said.
“The Central government’s Poshan Abhiyaan has become an effective mass movement to eradicate malnutrition in the country, especially among children, adolescent girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers,” Mr. Naqvi added.
