It was as much a test for the mother as it was for her child. The healthy baby contest and healthy expecting mother contest at Kolakhowa village in Dibrugarh district of eastern Assam, organised by Itakhuli health sub centre health workers in association with Dibrugarh unit of Field Outreach Bureau (FOB) under Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in connection with a special publicity programme on Swachha Abhiyan and birth anniversary of Father of Nation: Mahatma Gandhi on Tuesday had it all – test of best practices of the mother and its reflection on her child.
The parameters to judge the children included – weight of the child proportionate with the age, weight at the time of birth, place of birth, nature of delivery (Caesarean or normal), place of delivery and feeding of colostrums milk, duration of breast feeding, month of first complementary food besides breast milk, nature of complementary food time of vaccination, polio immunization and general health condition, cleanliness, mother’s care etc.
About 50 mothers participated in the competition along with their babies and prizes were given to the winners.
Pranab Kumar Nath, IIS, Field Publicity Officer of FOB, Dibrugarh in his address praised the efforts of health workers for organizing such a beneficial programme in such a remote area.
He stressed on regular co-ordination with ground health workers like ASHA, ANM for timely immunization, health education, antenatal care and infant feeding and also highlighted the importance of awareness of government health schemes for maximum benefit by the rural population.
Dr G K Arongia, Medical and Health Officer of Kolakhowa Primary Health Centre along with Asha Supervisors Momi Gogoi, Kalyani Gogoi, Mrinanjali Konwar and health worker Promode Konwar conducted the medical check-up for the participating babies and expecting mothers.
Addressing the gathering, Dr Arongia said that such health awareness activities help in imparting education and health consciousness through competition.
ASHA supervisors in their address explained the various methods and tips of maintaining good health of their children and cleanliness for precaution of diseases.