Health
The rapidly growing population had been a major concern for health planners and
administrators in India since independence. The result was the launching of National Family Planning Programme by the Government of India. India was the first country to have taken up the family planning programme at the national level. A CHANGED POLICY named as TARGET FREE APPROACH came into existence from 1.4.96. Thereafter, following the recommendations of the International Conferenceon population and Development (ICPD) held in Cairo in 1994, the Govt of India introduced the Reproductive & Child Health (RCH) package to supplement the MCH services in the country. Reproductive and Child Health Program is a major initiative in 9th Five year Plan from April, 1999 following the International Conference of Population Development in Cairo.
Poor health status of women and children in terms of high mortality and morbidity was another health priority in this country. Health facilities like hospitals and health centres were established for providing Maternal and Child Health (MCH) care through antenatal, intra-natal and post-natal services. In addition, a number of special programmes and schemes like immunization against vaccine preventable diseases, nutrition interventions like iron and folic acid distribution and vitamin A supplementation, diarrhoeal disease control through Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT), Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) control programme etc. were implemented over the past. In order to ensure maximum benefit from these programmes and to provide services in an integrated manner to these vulnerable group, the Child Survival and Safe Motherhood (CSSM) programme was implemented in India since 1992.
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