ITANAGAR, 17 Nov: Additional Commissioner of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Dr Sumita Ghosh on Tuesday launched the National Newborn Week (NNW) and Social Awareness and Actions to Neutralize Pneumonia Successfully (SAANS) campaign under the Azadi ka Amrut Mahotsav here in the state.
Dr Ghosh, speaking on the occasion, gave emphasis on public awareness on government schemes or programmes.
“Whatever we plan or direct will not bear fruit unless we meet the people who actually are involved in the implementation of any scheme or programme,” she said. She also laid emphasis on convergence of line departments
for the successful implementation of the programmes.
Child Health nodal officer Dr Tana Natung gave a presentation on the overview of newborn services and SAANS implementation status in the state.
NHM Mission Director CR Kampa also spoke on the occasion.
The NNW is being observed across the state from 15 to 21 November with the theme, ‘Safety, Quality and Nurturing Care – Birth Right of Every Newborn’. The main objective of the event was to raise awareness about the importance of newborn care for child survival and development.
The Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare launched the SAANS initiative to address the burden of childhood pneumonia.
The SAANS campaign is being observed from 12 November till 28 February, 2022 with an aim to accelerate action against childhood pneumonia by generating awareness on protection, prevention and treatment aspects, to enhance early identification and care-seeking behaviors among parents and caregivers, and also to promote Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines (PCV). (DIPR)
