Rural children with congenital disorders aided under RBSK
The Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) under the National Health Mission has done wonders in improving the health of children with congenital disorders.
Lalit Kumar’s 17 year old daughter Ashita, from Degana village of Nagaur district used to suffer from breathlessness. She was diagnosed with a hole in her heart. Under RBSK, she was screened in the school and referred to an advanced medical institute. Last month, Ashita was operated on at a hospital in Jaipur and is fine now.
RBSK nodal officer Dr Mushtaq Ahmed said, “There are 47 households in Nagaur district where children have been treated free of cost for this problem. This scheme is like a lifeline for children suffering from congenital diseases.” RBSK has also detected detached palate and bent leg disorders.
RBSK district coordinator, Hukumchand Maru said, “In the last one year, RBSK mobile health teams have screened 2.97 lakh children out of which 8,443 children have been referred for treatment. Out of them, about 5400 children have been treated in government and private institutes.”
The union ministry of health and family welfare have launched the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) under the National Health Mission. It envisages child health screening and early intervention services, a systemic approach to early identification and link to care, support and treatment. This programme includes the existing school health programme.
Child health screening and early intervention services basically refer to early detection and management of a set of 30 health conditions prevalent in children less than 18 years of age. These conditions are mainly defects at birth, diseases in children, deficiency conditions and developmental delays including disabilities.