New Delhi: Union Health Minister J P Nadda on Sunday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for raising important health issues including ending preventable maternal and child deaths and dengue, and said his ministry will rise to the challenge.
Modi raised important health issues during today's 'Mann Ki Baat', which was broadcasted on All India Radio (AIR).
"The Prime Minister has rightly highlighted contemporary and relevant health issues such as ending all preventable maternal and child deaths in the country and simple steps to prevent dengue.
"The Prime Minister has noted that while we have made impressive progress in appreciably reducing maternal and child deaths in the country and the world is taking note of these achievements, there is a long way to go. No mother and child should die of causes that can be easily prevented," Nadda said in an official statement.
Nadda also said that the emphasis on preventing dengue through simple measures in the Prime Minister's talk will create widespread awareness about maintaining sanitation and hygiene in our surroundings.
"We shall rise to the challenge of ending all preventable maternal and child deaths in the country along with the states," said Nadda.
Modi, during the talk, had said that around 50 thousand mothers and 13 lakh children die during delivery or soon after in India, which was "concerning and scary".
The Prime Minister had further said that although there has been improvements in this and India has been appreciated by the world, still the figures are not small.
He said that India has eliminated maternal and neonatal tetanus and the world has accepted it but we still have to save the mothers and children.
He also talked about dengue and said that its prevention is directly related the Swaach Bharat Abhiyaan. He said that despite many advertisements in television and newspapers, people do not take note of it.
"In the entire country, there are 514 centres where tests for dengue is conducted free of cost and timely tests are very essential," the PM said.
Recently during a global summit, Modi had said that India has eliminated maternal and neonatal tetanus much before the target date set for December this year and had described the achievement as a "major milestone" in efforts to reduce maternal and child mortality.
