Manipur Initiates SAANS Campaign 2023-24 For Pneumonia Prevention

In a significant move aimed at addressing childhood pneumonia, Dr. Sapam Ranjan Singh, the State Health and Family Welfare Minister of Manipur, recently inaugurated the SAANS Campaign 2023-24 in Imphal. Concurrently, the minister also dedicated the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) as the State Newborn Resource Centre, emphasizing the state’s commitment to child healthcare.

About SAANS Mission

SAANS, which stands for Social Awareness and Action to Neutralize Pneumonia, is an annual campaign implemented in states and Union Territories. The primary objective of SAANS is to accelerate action against childhood pneumonia, a leading cause of child mortality.

Features of SAANS Mission

1.Reducing Child Mortality: The SAANS mission aims to minimize child mortality caused by pneumonia, accounting for approximately 15% of all fatalities in children under the age of five annually.

2.Public Awareness Campaign: SAANS will initiate a public awareness campaign to educate communities about effective pneumonia prevention strategies. This includes promoting practices such as breastfeeding, age-appropriate supplemental feeding, and vaccination.

Mandate of the Campaign

1.Treatment by ASHA Workers: Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers will play a crucial role in treating children suffering from pneumonia, administering a pre-referral dosage of the antibiotic amoxicillin.

2.Utilization of Pulse Oximeter: Health and wellness centers will employ Pulse Oximeters, devices that monitor oxygen saturation, to detect low oxygen levels in a child’s blood. This proactive approach ensures early identification and intervention in cases of pneumonia.

Government’s Pneumonia Mitigation Goals

1.2025 Target: The government aims to reduce pneumonia fatalities among children to less than three per 1,000 live births by the year 2025.

2.Integrated Action Plan: In 2014, India established the ‘Integrated Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Pneumonia and Diarrhoea (IAPPD)’ to coordinate joint efforts in reducing mortality related to diarrhoea and pneumonia among children under the age of five.

Summary

SAANS Campaign Launch: Manipur’s Health Minister inaugurated the SAANS Campaign 2023-24 in Imphal, focusing on fast-tracking efforts against childhood pneumonia.

JNIMS as Newborn Resource Centre: The Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) is now the State Newborn Resource Centre, reinforcing Manipur’s dedication to child healthcare.

SAANS Mission Goal: SAANS aims to minimize child mortality from pneumonia, which contributes to 15% of under-five fatalities annually.

Campaign Mandates: Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) will treat children with pneumonia, and health centers will use Pulse Oximeters to detect low oxygen levels.

Government Targets: The government aims to reduce pneumonia fatalities in children to less than three per 1,000 live births by 2025, following the Integrated Action Plan established in 2014.