School health programme from November 27, says Deputy CM Nitin Patel

The state-wide School Health Programme, which will cover as many as 1.59 children in the age group of 0 to 18, will begin from November 27, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel said. Addressing the steering committee meeting of School Health Programme, Patel said that the drive would go on till February 1, and cover 1.59 crore children.

"The children will be provided primary healthcare on the spot. The state government, along with the Centre, will also bear the cost of speciality treatment that needs to be provided to the children," he said. The drive will cover newborns, anganwadi children, primary, secondary & higher secondary school children, non-school going children, those living in orphanages or children's home, madrassas, among others.

The state government said in a release that 1.55 crore children were covered under the programme last year, of whom 19.62 lakh children were provided treatment on the spot. Close to 23,000 children were treated for heart ailments, over 3,500 for kidney ailments, 1,843 for cancer diseases, 626 for cleft lips / palate, and 530 for club foot. The release said that the government also bore the cost of kidney transplant for 25 children, 501 cochlear implants, and 28 bone marrow transplant operations.

BIG BOOST FOR THE LITTLE ONES

• The children will be provided primary healthcare on spot. State government, along with Centre, will also bear the cost of speciality treatment that needs to be provided to the children, Deputy CM Nitin Patel said. 
   
• 1.55 crore children were covered under the programme last year.