00:00 I am pleased to learn that Outlook, one of India's leading magazines, has launched an
00:08 awareness campaign focusing on health, particularly that of women and children.
00:16 The health of women and children is at the heart of policies and programs in India.
00:23 Women comprise about 48% of India's population, nearly half of us, and children are our future.
00:32 Needless to say, it is the well-being of women and children that finally determines the health
00:39 of our nation.
00:41 India achieved the MDG goal for reduction of maternal mortality, and given the trend
00:47 of decline in the last few years, we will achieve SDG goal of maternal mortality rate
00:54 of 70 by 2025.
00:58 The pace of decline in under 5 mortality rate will also enable us to achieve the SDG goal
01:05 of under 5 mortality rate of under 25.
01:10 These will be ahead of the time frame of 2030 set for SDGs.
01:17 These declines have resulted from systematic implementation of evidence-based interventions
01:24 through robust health systems aimed at universal coverage, ensuring equity and quality.
01:33 I would like to highlight two of these.
01:37 The first is Mission Indra Dhanush, focused and targeted efforts to increase full immunization
01:44 coverage for every child.
01:47 The second is Suman, Surakshit Matritu Ashwasan, aimed at eliminating preventable maternal
01:55 and newborn deaths and assures universal access to high quality, respectful care with zero
02:04 tolerance for service denial.
02:07 Suman is one more step in India's progress towards ensuring health for all as part of
02:14 universal health care.
02:17 Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centers, which provide an expanded range of services,
02:24 are already showing that the presence of close to community functional health facilities,
02:32 offering a broader range of services, medicines and diagnostics, including those for non-communicable
02:39 diseases, play a key role in improving women's and children's access to screening, prevention
02:47 and early detection of illnesses.
02:50 Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centers represent a major milestone in the provision
02:56 of universal free health care for all.
03:01 The National Digital Health Mission is intended to support integration of digital health infrastructure
03:08 and create a digital health ecosystem in the country.
03:14 Services such as issuance of health ID, creation of personal health records and the establishment
03:21 of registries for doctors and health facilities are being created to enable continuum of care
03:28 and reduce out of pocket expenditures.
03:33 The National Strategic Plan for Tuberculosis aims to ensure TB elimination in the country
03:40 5 years ahead of the global timeline.
03:44 This includes provision of incentives to ensure private sector practitioners for notification
03:51 of TB cases, expanding the number of CB-Net machines, introducing new drugs for multi-drug
03:59 resistant TB and a monthly entitlement of rupees 500 under the Nikshay Poshan Yojana
04:07 to those under treatment.
04:10 The Government of India under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi has been taking every
04:15 possible step to overcome this challenge.
04:20 However, every citizen must also join this battle in assuring good health for everyone.
04:28 I believe the initiative by Outlook and Racket when Kaiser will go a long way in building
04:36 our community capacity.
04:39 We need to be united in this fight.
04:43 Wishing you all a healthy future.
04:45 Thank you.
04:48 [BLANK_AUDIO]
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