Children below 5 yrs to get ‘Ayush Pushti’ biscuits to fight malnutrition

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Nov 7, 2013: In an effort to fight malnutrition in children, the  Department of Ayush  will be distributing  Ayush Pushti biscuits  to children below five years in the state.

Informing this to reporters here on November 6, Wednesday, State Health and Family Welfare Minister UT Khader said the scheme would be launched  immediately and children in five backward taluks which have already been identified will  be beneficiaries. He said the government intends to extend the scheme throughout the state in the near future, considering the success of the initial launch.

 

 

He said the biscuits which will be rich in Ayurvedic ingredients will also increase the immune power, assist in digestion and improve concentration power of the kids.

 The Health Minister also informed  that around 35000 ASHA workers ( Accredited Social Health Activists) will soon get free mobile phones   and SIM cards. He also  briefed on the incentives to be provided to ASHA workers and said   each worker who takes a patient  to  hospital will get an incentive of Rs 200 and that the incentive amount will be more in case the patient belongs to SC/ST category.

He also spoke about the government plans  to have integrated medicine system in all Primary Health Centres  where patients can opt for treatment in any stream of medicine including allopathy, Homeopathy or Unani.

On the Sowjanya case, he said the state government has taken a bold step by handing over the case to the CBI.