Imphal: Health & IPR Minister, Dr. Sapam Ranjan Singh said that health awareness campaigns need to be organized in remote areas of the state. Minister Dr. S. Ranjan was speaking as chief guest on the occasion of the observance of Global Iodine Deficiency Disorder Prevention Day, 2022 held at IMA hall, Lamphelpat, Imphal Friday.
Minister maintained that we have many observances in a calendar year and it goes on. “But we are not sure whether the people are actually benefiting from it or not. We will need a targeted approach if such observances are to be made fruitful. We need a survey and collect data of the particular area and accordingly, we may organize such programs on priority”, he added.
Dr Ranjan stated that there should be a focus on the primary health care system. Without strengthening primary health care at the grassroots level, improving the tertiary health care system is difficult, he asserted.
He stated that all the participants in such awareness programs should share their knowledge with others. He also appealed to all the concerned noddle officers of the department to chalk out proper strategies based on the accumulated data, the minister added.
Speaking at the event as president, Additional Director, Public Health, Dr. Gopalkrishna said that iodine deficiency may cause diseases related to thyroid, heart and diabetes etc. Consumption of iodized salt benefits our bodies in many ways. “We should take only iodized salt. We need to check the packet of salt whether there is the expiry date. If the salt packet is found expired, we should not take it”, he suggested.
State Mission Director, NHM, Manipur, Dr. Somorjit Ningombam and Senior Regional Director, Health & FW, Government of India, Dr Lourembam Ashananda also attended the occasion as guests of honor. Officials and staff of NHM, Health Department and Family Welfare and student nurses and others also attended the occasion.
