Partners Forum 2018 Hosted by Govt. of India

The Partners Forum 2018 was hosted by the Government of India from 12th to 13th December 2018 at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. The theme of the Partners Forum 2018 was Power of Partnership to bring different constituencies together for cross-sectoral action for women՚s, children՚s and adolescents health.

Partners Forum 2018

Steps Taken

The steps taken to achieve the objectives of the Partners Forum 2018 were:

  1. Ministerial Conclave was organized during the Partners Forum 2018 with Health Ministers and Head of country delegations for reaffirmations of commitments by countries for accelerating momentum for women, children and adolescent health agenda.
  2. The 12 success case studies from different countries were disseminated during the Partners Forum 2018 on various themes. From India, Intensified Mission Indradhanush was one of the 12 case studies presented during the event.
  3. India adaptations of Global Health Strategy for Women՚s, Children՚s and Adolescents Health; and Guidelines on Midwifery services in India were released during the event.
  4. Partners Forum Communique was released with commitments from different constituencies to work together on issues related to women, children and adolescent health.
  5. Government of India organized “Market Place” during the event for showcasing innovations and best practices from State governments on the theme of Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, Child and Adolescent Health.
  6. The Partners Forum 2018 was attended by over 1500 participants with 600 participants from different countries. The participants included Health Ministers from various countries, partner organizations, Civil Society organizations, Academics, State representatives and Youth representatives.

Issues Discussed During Partners Forum

The issues discussed during the event were on following topics:

  1. Political Leadership with focus on women՚s political leadership, financing, high quality healthcare, young people, Violence against Women, Universal Health Coverage.
  2. Multi-sectoral collaboration for Early Childhood Development, Adolescent Health, Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights, Empowerment, Humanitarian & Fragile setting, Quality, Equity and Dignity.
  3. Discussion on Financial Accountability, Social accountability, Private sector accountability, Parliamentarians Role, and Accountability in humanitarian setting.
  4. Sessions on People centered Partnerships, Harnessing Partnerships, Partnership for Maternal and Child Health in challenging contexts, Sustainable financing and Digital innovations for Women, Children and Adolescent Health.

Co-Organization with Partner՚s Forum

  • The Partners Forum was co-organized by the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health and the Government of India. The Government of India contributed ₹ 2.5 crores for hosting the event.
  • Health being a State subject. Government of India provides financial and technical assistance to States⟋UTs based on the proposals in their Annual Programme Implementation Plans (APIP) under National Health Mission (NHM) . Various initiatives under National Health Mission (NHM) to improve maternal, child and adolescent health in the country during last 3 years and current year are given below:

Steps Being Taken to Improve Maternal and Child Health:-

  1. Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) , a demand promotion and conditional cash transfer scheme to encourage institutional deliveries.
  2. Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) aims to eliminate out-of-pocket expenses for pregnant women and for treatment of sick neonates.
  3. Pradhan MantriSurakshitMatritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) to provide fixed-day assured comprehensive and quality antenatal care universally to all pregnant women on 9th of every month.
  4. LaQshya- Labor room Quality improvement Initiative for improving quality of care around birth and ensure respectful maternity care.
  5. Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Wings are being established at high caseload facilities to improve quality of care.
  6. Maternal Death Surveillance and Response (MDSR) at facilities and in community to take corrective action for averting maternal deaths.
  7. Operationalization of Comprehensive Abortion Care Services and services for Reproductive Tract Infections and Sexually Transmitted Infections (RTI⟋STI) at health facilities.
  8. Capacity building of MBBS doctors in Anaesthesia (LSAS) and Obstetric Care including C-section (EmOC) skills and establishment of Skill Labs to enhance quality of training.
  9. Mother and Child Tracking System (MCTS) and Mother and Child Tracking Facilitation Centre (MCTFC) to monitor timely and quality ANC services, JSY benefit, Immunization etc.
  10. Dissemination of Operational guidelines for Universal screening of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, screening for hypothyroidism for high risk pregnancy, calcium supplementation and de-worming during pregnancy.
  11. Under Anemia Mukt Bharat (Intensified National Iron Plus Initiative) , iron and folic acid supplementation is provided across life stages for pregnant and lactating women, children and adolescent girls.
  12. Establishment of Special Newborn Care Units (SNCU) , Newborn Stabilization Units (NBSU) and Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) units for care of sick and small babies.
  13. Home Based Newborn Care (HBNC) and Home Based Care of Young Children (HBYC) by ASHAs to improve child rearing practices.
  14. Early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding and appropriate Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices are being promoted in convergence with Ministry of Women and Child Development. Mass media campaigns and capacity building of health care providers underMothers Absolute Affection (MAA) programme for improving breastfeeding practices.
  15. Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) is being supported to provide vaccination to children against various life threatening diseases.
  16. Government has launched Mission Indradhanush to reach the target of 90% Full Immunization Coverage through covering unvaccinated and partially vaccinated children and pregnant women in pockets of low immunization coverage in hard-to-reach areas.
  17. Rashtriya Bal SwasthyaKaryakram (RBSK) for screening and early detection of birth defects, diseases, deficiencies, development delays and early intervention services all children in the 0 - 18 years age group.
  18. Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres (NRCs) at public health facilities to manage children with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) admitted with medical complications.
  19. National Deworming Days (NDDs) are being organised in the country to de-worm children aged 1 - 19 years using platforms such as AWCs and Schools by administering Albendazole tablets.
  20. Intensified Diarrhoea Control Fortnight (IDCF) is being observed across the country since 2014 for childhood diarrhoea control by promotion of ORS and zinc for treatment of childhood diarrhoea and creating community awareness on personal and community hygiene practices.
  21. IEC⟋BCC activities with focus on ANC, institutional delivery, nutrition, immunization etc.

Steps Being Taken to Improve to Improve Adolescent Health

The Government is implementing Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakaram (RKSK) under NHM to improve health of adolescents in the country. Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakaram includes following interventions:

  1. Weekly Iron and Folic acid Supplementation (WIFS) programme to provide weekly Iron and Folic Acid tablets to in-school boys and girls and out-of-school girls and biannual anti-helminthic Albendazole tablets for prevention of iron and folic acid deficiency anaemiacovering government, government aided andmunicipal schools and Anganwadi centres.
  2. School Health Program under Ayushman Bharat to strengthen health promotion and disease prevention interventions for school children.
  3. Scheme for Promotion of MenstrualHygienefor rural adolescent girls to increase awareness and hygienic practices among adolescent girls related to Menstrual Hygiene.
  4. Peer educators in the community are conducting participatory sessions on adolescent health issues.
  5. Adolescent Health Day (AHD) is being organized in community for reaching out to adolescents and their parents⟋care givers and community leaders.
  6. Adolescent Friendly Health Clinics (AFHCs) at Government health facilities with Medical Officers, ANMs and Counselors trained in Adolescent Friendly Health Services for adequate and appropriate care to adolescents.

Examrace Team at Aug 27, 2021