The office of the District Medical & Health Officer, Jowai organised a programme for launching of Social Awareness & Action to Neutralize Pneumonia Successfully (SAANS) Campaign at Panaliar.
SAANS is a campaign launched to ensure early detection and create awareness of Pneumonia targeting the age group of 0 – 5 years.
The programme was attended by Jowai MLA, Wailadmiki Shylla, Deputy Commissioner B.S Sohliya, Additional Deputy Commissioner M A Challam, doctors and others.
Launching the programme, Shylla said such kinds of programme is very important for mothers to be aware of the various symptoms of diseases that their child may contract with, right from start of birth as in most cases it is seen that the children suffered malnutrition or vitamin deficiency. He stressed on the importance of a balanced diet for every child and every mother to be well informed.
Shylla urged the residents to co-operate and work in hand with the health department and the state government for any medical scheme related benefit or programme being organised.
The deputy commissioner also called for cooperation from the head of the localities including Rangbah Shnongs, NGOs, Seng Kynthei, youths of various localities and villages to work hand in hand with the health workers during the campaign in order to reduce child mortality rate in the district.
Dr. E. War, Medical Superintendent, MCH Hospital, Panaliar talked about the danger signs of common childhood illness that every mother should be aware of while Dr. Peter Daniel Khariong, Paediatric Surgeon, Woodland WK Hospital, Sabah Muswang spoke about the Surgical Childhood Conditions, showing the various cases taken in treating the children suffering from various diseases and advising the parents to take timely medication if such arises.
Dr (Mrs) H. L. Suting, DEIC Manager, WJH, Jowai briefed on the Services provided by District Early Intervention Center (DEIC) and mentioned about the RBSK (Rastriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram), a screening program for children since birth until 18 years of age stressing on the 4 ‘D’s – defect at Birth, deficiencies, childhood disease, developmental delays.
Dr. Helen J. Uriah, District MCH Officer, West Jaintia Hills, Jowai elaborated about the signs and symptoms of pneumonia and advised the parents if they identify any such signs like shortness of breath, coughing, fever or any in a child should seek immediate medical help.
The SAANS campaign will run until February 28, 2023 in Meghalaya.
