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Top Rajasthan Ministers Pledge to Improve Health of Adolescents In The State

Top Rajasthan Ministers Pledge to Improve Health of Adolescents In The State
Rajasthan Health Minister Dr Raghu Sharma holding the pledge

Adolescent health is a priority in Rajasthan. The state government is committed to investing in the health and holistic development of youth, who constitutes 32 per cent of the state's total population.

Written by Editorial Team |Updated : June 23, 2021 12:01 PM IST

Rajasthan Health Minister Dr Raghu Sharma and Women and Child Development Minister Mamta Bhupesh made strong commitments towards improving the health and overall well-being of adolescents, signing a pledge articulating their intent. The ministers signed the document in the presence of the representatives of the national-level Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Population Foundation of India, the architects of the campaign.

"Adolescents and youth are our greatest asset, and we are committed to investing in their health and holistic development for a just, inclusive and prosperous Rajasthan," the pledge states, reaffirming the Rajasthan government's commitment to ensuring adolescents are healthy and empowered to be positive change-makers. It promises their inclusion in policymaking and in the ideation of development programmes so that they can be stakeholders in decisions that will impact their lives and overall well-being.

Divya Santhanam, Senior State Program Manager, Population Foundation of India said, "As a grassroots organisation, we have discovered that when governments use their resources well and synergize with civil society organisations, change happens more rapidly and at a much larger scale. The renewed commitment by the Honourable Ministers of Health and Women and Child Development will play a very important role in ensuring adolescent health is a priority in Rajasthan."

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[caption id="attachment_821345" align="alignnone" width="576"] Women and Child Development Minister Mamta Bhupesh holding the pledge[/caption]

Addressing health and developmental needs of young people

The Rajasthan State government is already living up to these commitments, and spearheading campaigns to not just end child marriage but to address the health and developmental needs of young people. Campaigns like Nirogi Rajasthan, Zero Teenage Pregnancy (launched by the Health Minister), the establishment of Model Community Health Centers (CHCs) in all 200 constituencies as well as the inclusion of Adolescent Friendly Health Centers (AFHCs) in these Model CHCs are critical to improving adolescent well-being.

The state government's commitment is particularly significant as Rajasthan's youth and adolescent population constitutes 32 per cent of the state's total population. Due to social, cultural and economic reasons, however, they face a slew of challenges that deny them the opportunity to realise their full potential. As per National Family Health Survey (2015-16), over 35 per cent girls in Rajasthan are married before the age of 18. The 2018 Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) survey stated that 20 per cent of girls drop out of school due of multiple reasons, including early marriage and childbearing.

"The signing of this pledge demonstrates the state government's commitment to advancing adolescent and youth health with concrete steps and empowering policies so that they can grow up to be productive, healthy, and happy citizens of the country. This is all the more relevant in the present pandemic as COVID-19 has highlighted the need for investing in our adolescents and youth for healthier and more resilient communities," added Santhanam.