Ajit Pawar to launch statewide medical examination drive on March 1 in Pune

Across the state more than 1.66 crore children in the 1-18 age group will be medically examined. The drive will continue till March-end. Around 14 lakh students will be examined across 6000 schools while check-ups for 20 lakh children will be conducted at anganwadis.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, under the National Health Mission has been conducting the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK), an innovative and ambitious initiative, which envisages Child Health Screening and Early Intervention Services, a systemic approach of early identification and link to care, support and treatment.

RBSK is a one of a kind programme, framed to improve the overall quality of life of children enabling all children achieve their full potential; and also provide comprehensive care to all the children in the community. This programme involves screening of children from birth to 18 years of age for 4 Ds- Defects at birth, Diseases, Deficiencies and Development delays, spanning 32 common health conditions for early detection and free treatment and management, including surgeries at tertiary level.

According to health officials, children diagnosed with identified selected health conditions are provided early intervention services and follow-up care at the district level. These services are provided free of cost, thus helping their families reduce out of pocket expenditure incurred on the treatment.