Lok Sabha Question No. 4113 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-01-04
Subject: Adolescent Health
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH, SUDHEER GUPTA, VIJAY KUMAR S.R., RATTAN LAL KATARIA, ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4113 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04 TH JANUARY, 2019

## ADOLESCENT HEALTH

## 4113. KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH:

SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA:

SHRI ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN:

SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

SHRI S.R. VIJAYAKUMAR:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has hosted the Partners Forum 2018 recently;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along withthe steps taken to achieve the aims and objectives of the event;
- (c) the total number of participants from different countries who have participated in the event;
- (d) the issues discussed during the even along with the amount allocated and utilized ;
- (e) whether the Government has taken any steps towards maternal, child and Adolescent health in the country during the last three years and the current year; and
- (f)  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government to  accelerate  efforts  to  reduce  child  and maternal mortality, improve adolescent, hild, newborn and maternal health?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a) to (c): The Partners Forum 2018 was hosted by theGovernment of India from 12th to 13 th December 2018 at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.

The  theme  of  the  Partners  Forum  2018  was  'Power  of  Partnership'  to  bring  different constituencies together for cross -sectoral action for women's, children's and adolescents' health.

The steps taken to achieve the objectives of the Partners Forum 2018 were:

- Ministerial Conclave was organized during the Partners Forum 2018 with Health Ministers and  Head  of  country delegations  for  reaffirmations  of commitments by  countries  for accelerating momentum for women, children and adolescent health agenda.
- The 12 success case studies from different countries were disseminated during the Partners Forum 2018 onvarious themes.From India, Intensified Mission Indradhanush was one of the 12 case studies presented during the event. .
- India  adaptations  of  Global  Health  Strategy  for  Women's,  Children's  and  Adolescents' Health; and Guidelines on Midwifery services in India were released during the event.
- Partners Forum Communique was released wit h commitments from different constituencies to work together on issues related to women, children and adolescent health .
- Government of India organized 'Market Place' during the eventfor showcasing innovations and  best  practices  from  State  governments  on  t he theme  of  Reproductive,  Maternal, Neonatal, Child and Adolescent Health.

The Partners Forum 2018 was attended by over 1500 participants w th600 participants from  different  countries .  The  participants  included Health  Ministers  from variouscountries, partner organizations, Civil Society organizations, Academics, State representatives and representatives .

(d): The issues discussed during the event were on following topics:

- Political  Leadership  with  focus  on  women's  political  leadership,  f inancing, high  quality healthcare, young people, Violence Against W omen, Universal Health Coverage.
- Multi - sectoral  collaboration forEarly Childhood Development, Adolescent Health, Sexual and Reproductive  Health Rights, Empowerment, Humanitarian  &  Fragile setting,  Q uality, Equity and Dignity.
- Discussion on Financial Accountability, Social accountability, Private sector accountabi Parliamentarians' Role, and Accountability in humanitarian setting.
- Sessions on People centered Partnerships, Harnessing Partnerships, Partnership for Maternal and Child Health in challenging contexts ,Sustainable financing a d Digital innovations for Women, Children and Adolescent Health.

The  Partners'  Forum  was  co - organized  by  the  Partnership  for  Maternal,  Newborn  and Child Health and the Government of India.  The Government of India contributed Rs. 2.5 cror for hosting the event.

(e)& (f) : Health  being  a  State  subject.  Government  of  India  provides  financial  a technical  assistance  to  States/  UTs  based  on  the  proposals  in  their Annual  Programme Implementation Plans (APIP) under National Health Mission (NHM). V arious initiatives under National Health Mission (NHM) to improve maternal, child and adolescent health in the cou during last 3 years and current year are atannexure.

## Stepsbeing taken to improve Maternal and Child Health: -

- Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), a demand promotion and conditional cash transfer scheme to encourageinstitutional deliveries.
- Janani  Shishu  Suraksha  Karyakram  (JSSK)  aims  to  eliminate  out - of - pocke expenses  for pregnant women and for treatment of sick neonates.
- Pradhan  MantriSurakshitMatritva  Abhiyan  (PMSMA)  to  provide  fixed - day  assured comprehensive and quality antenatal car e universal ly to all pregnant women on 9th of every month.
- LaQshya- Labor roomQuality improvement Initiative for improving quality of care around birth and ensure respectful maternity care.
- Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Wings are beingestablished at hi gh caseload facilities to improve quality of care.
- Maternal Death Surveillance and Response (MDSR) at facilities and in community to ta corrective action for averting maternal deaths.
- Operationalization of Comprehensive Abortion Care Services and service s for Reproductive Tract Infections and Sexually Transmitted Infections (RTI/STI) at health facilities.
- Capacity building of MBBS doctors in Anaesthesia (LSAS) and Obstetric Care including -section (EmOC) skills and establishment of Skill Labs to enh nce quality of training.
- Mother  and  Child  Tracking  System  (MCTS)  and  Mother  and  Child  Tracking  Facilitation Centre (MCTFC) to monitor timely and quality ANC services , JSY benefit, Immunization etc.
- Dissemination  of  O perational  guidelines  for  Universal screening  of  Gestational  Diabetes Mellitus,  screening  for  hypothyroidism  for  high  risk  pregnancy,  calcium  supplementa and de - worming during p regnancy.
- U nder Anemia Mukt  Bharat (Intensified National Iron Plus Initiative), iron and folic supplementa tion  is  provided  across  life  stages for pregnant and lacta ting women, children and adolescent girls.
- Establishment  of  Special  Newborn  Care  Units  (SNCU),  Newborn  Stabilization  Units (NBSU) and Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) units for care of sick and small babi es.
- Home Based Newborn Care (HBNC) and Home Based Care of Young Children (HBYC) by ASHAs to improve child rearing practices.
- Early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding and appropriate Infant and Young Child Fe (IYCF)  practices  are beingpromoted  in convergence  with  Ministry  of  Women  and  Child Development. Mass  media  campaigns  and  capacity  building  of  health  care  providers underMothers' Absolute Affection (MAA) programme for improving breastfeeding practices.
- Universal  Immunization  Programme  (UIP)  is  being  supported  to  provide  vaccination  t children against various life threatening diseases.

Full

- Government  has  launched  Mission Indradhanush  to  reach  the  target  of  90% Immunization Coverage through covering unv accinated and partially vaccinated children and pregnant women in pockets of low immunization coverage in hard - to - reach areas.
- Rashtriya  Bal  Swasthya Karyakram  (RBSK)  for  screening and early  detection  of  birth defects,  diseases,  deficiencies,  development  d elays  and  early  intervention  services all children in the 0 - 18 years age group.
- Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres (NRCs) at public health facilities to manage children with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) admitted with medical complications.
- National Deworm ing Days (NDDs) are being organised in the country to de - worm children aged 1 - 19 years using platforms such as AWCs and Schools by administering Albendazole tablets.
- Intensified Diarrhoea Control Fortnight (IDCF) is being observed across the country 2014  for  childhood  diarrhoea  control  by  promotion  of  ORS  and  zinc  for  treatment childhood diarrhoea and creating community awareness on personal and community hygiene practices.
- IEC/BCC activities with focus on ANC, institutional delivery, nutrition, immunization etc.

## Stepsbeing taken to improve to improve Adolescent Health: -

The Government is implementing Rashtriya KishorSwasthyaKaryakaram (RKSK) under NHM to improve health of adolescents in the country. Rashtriya KishorSwasthyaKaryakaram includes following interventions:

- Weekly Iron and Folic acid Supplementation (WIFS) programme to provide weekly I ron and Folic  Acid tablets  to  in - school  boys  and  girls  and  out - of - school  girls  and  biannual anti helminthic  A lbendazole  tablets  for  prevention of  iron  and  folic  acid  deficiency  anaemia covering government, government aided and municipal schools and Anganwadi centres.
- School Health Program under Ayushman Bharat to strengthen health promotion and disease prevention interventions for school children.
- Scheme forPromotion of Menstrual Hygiene for rural adolescent girls to increase awareness and hygienic practices among adolescent girls elated to Menstrual Hygiene .
- Peer educator s in the community are conducting participatory sessions on adolescent health issues.
- Adolescent  Health  Day  (AHD) is  being  organized in community  for  reaching  out  to adolescents and their parents/ care givers and commu ity leaders .
- Adolescent  Friendly  Health  Clinics  (AFHCs) at  Government  health  facilities  with  Medical Officers, ANMs and Counselors trained in Adolescent Friendly Health Services for adequ and appropriate care to adolescents.