The avenue of Maternal and child health (MCH) assigned to me by DG Santosh is challenging.

I have a committee of nine Members and most of them are doctors with considerable expertise in this field.

Our committee is aware that in rural India the health problems related to MCH are only massive but are persistent for last couple of decades.

In contrast, urban areas are witnessing problems like PCOD, Brest and cervical Cancer, adiposity, addictions inadolescents, childhood obesity owing to drastic changes in lifestyle and diet. The committee therefore would like to recommend strengthening of Primary Health Centres (PHC) in rural areas by

i) donation of Baby warmers that increase survival of low-birth-weight babies
ii) phototherapy units that help to treat babies having high bilirubin levels at birth
iii) giving baby sleeping bags that help to keep warmth for LBW babies and
iv) empowering ASHAs by giving them digital BP monitoring machines and pulse oximeters to attend emergencies at village level.Besides,

we are suggesting webinars for tackling issues of urban mothers, women health Mela for rural mothers, workshops for adolescent school children, workshop for Interact clubswherein dietary management of anaemia, Cancer awareness among women, healthy foods Vs fast foods, addictions and adiposity among children will be tackled.The committee is tryingfor Synergy among clubs in a Zone so that projects can be undertaken on large scales.

We hopePresidents would respond positively and undertake impactful projects suggested by the Committee.

All the Best for the Presidents in RY 2025-26.

Regards
Dr. Shobha Rao
Director MCH, 2025-26