Noble Initiative: Kanya Express launched by BIPF at Sukundia
By Swagatika Bhutia
Bhubaneswar, June. 23: Kanya Express, an innovative mobile health van was on June 22 launched by the “Bansidhar & Ila Panda Foundation” at Administration Building, Sukinda Mines (Chromite).
The initiatives aims at addressing Anaemia amongst adolescent girls to supplement the government initiative of Anemia Mukta Bharat (AMB).
Kanya Express was inaugurated by Sandeep Bapuraoji Narade, Vice President- Head Mining, Business Unit & Executive In charge Mines.
The Kanya Express will regularly check Hemoglobin levels of young girls, facilitate distribution of Iron Folic Acid supplements & Deworming Tablets through government network and impart awareness on anemia related illnesses, balance nutrition and wellness. BIPF will also provide adolescent girls with seed kits to create a nutri-garden in their household backyard which will help with nutrition supplementation.
On this ocassion, Ms. Shaifalika Panda, CEO- BIPF quotes “Kanya Express will be a game changer for adolescent girls helping them to understand nutritional needs and address anemia related challenges. This project has been introduced with an objective to reduce the intergenerational challenges caused due to anemia and poor nutrition and in turn reduce MMR and IMR in the program areas”
The “Kanya Express” is a customized mobile health vehicle which will travel to far-flung areas and villages in Jajpur district. This program will cover 104 villages of 25 Gram Panchayats in Sukinda Block of Jajpur District in the current year. In addition to haemoglobin checks and Iron folic acid supplements, The Kanya Express Initiative (KEI) will work in close collaboration with Office of Chief District Medical Officer, District Social Welfare Officer and District Education Officer to address development issues of adolescent girls of Sukinda Block. The customized vehicle will reach to every village at least for 11 times with various awareness generation messages for the inclusive development of adolescent health
Every fifth person in India is an adolescent and from this 50.6% are girls. Adolescent girls are prone to diverse vulnerabilities and 56% are anemic. Low hemoglobin leads to physical weakness, which reduces their chances to learn skills and be productive. Further anemia also leads to difficult pregnancies, complicated childbirth and low birthweight babies who are then prone to several complications.
Other esteemed members present on this occasion are Gaya dhar, Parida- ABEO Sukinda, Dipu Ranjan Gai- Nutrition Expert- OMBADC, Bikash Patra, Sarapanch Kaliapani Panchayat, Sanjaya Parida- Sarapanch, Kankadpal,Umarani Pradhan Samiti Sabhya Ransol Panchayat, Headmistress Jyostna Rani Jena of Kaliapani High School, Narayan Chandra Dhir, General Secretary-SRCKMC Union, Central and IMFA Branch Committee members and employees of the company.
Nilendu Chantterjee DGM- BIPF along with his team has arranged and coordinated the entire program.
