All children in the age group of 0-18 years, especially those in schools and anganwadis, will be screened for early detection of ailments and to offer tertiary care under Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram.
The main objective of the exercise is to ensure comprehensive health care and assured extensive health services, according to Collector T.N. Hariharan.
The screening would facilitate early detection of medical conditions and timely intervention and result in reduction in mortality, morbidity and lifelong disability, the Collector told reporters here on Tuesday.
Deputy Director of Health Services M. Varadarajan said that birth defects would lead to death of the new born and nutritional deficiencies affected pre-school children, resulting in developmental disorders at an early age.
Improve survival
The screening would shape reproductive, maternal, newborn, child health and adolescent health strategies and improve child survival and development, he said.
Besides economic benefits, timely intervention would also prevent further deterioration and bring down medical expenses of the poor and marginalised people, he added.
For children aged between six weeks and six years, anganwadi-based screening would be taken up and for others school-level screening would follow.
A block programme manager would provide logistic support, ensure referral support and manage compilation of data. He would also chalk out a detailed screening plan for all the teams in consultation with schools and anganwadis, he said.
Earlier, the Collector inspected a primary health centre at Thadikombu here on Tuesday.
