(a) the details of health care awareness programmes being run in the country and achievements thereof;
(b) whether the level of health care awareness in the country is very low;
(c) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
(d) the corrective measures taken by the Government in this regard?
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE(SHRI GHULAM NABI AZAD)
(a): The States/UTs are given funds under Mission Flexi Pool under National Rural
Health Mission (NRHM) and RCH Flexi Pool for implementation of various national level
health programmes of the Government of India which form part of annual Programme
Implementation Plan (PIP) of a State. Information, Education and Communication (IEC)
is an approved and on going activity under all programmes including the National
Disease Control Programmes. The activity has definite and planned strategy at central,
State and district level to create awareness about health problems among the target
population. The States take up IEC activities as per the programme needs. Apart from
this, the ministry also carries out various general and innovative IEC campaigns
through multi media tools, exhibitions, health melas, workshops, by celebrating special
health days like World Health Day etc.
The Department of AIDS Control have also taken up vigorous campaigns to create
awareness on HIV/AIDS and to promote safe behaviours. Department of AYUSH have also
launched campaigns for improving health seeking behaviour of people in Ayurveda and
Homoeopathy etc. The achievements of IEC campaigns cannot be gauged in quantifiable
terms. However, its impact is visible on the masses. National Rural Health Mission
has been well positioned through length and breadth of the country through sustained
IEC campaigns.
(b) & (c): A special focus is being given on 18 Sates namely, Bihar, Jharkhand,
Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Orissa, Rajasthan, Himachal
Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and eight States in the north-east under the National Rural
Health Mission.
(d): IEC campaigns are formulated and modified from time to time keeping view the
target audience under a particular health programme. Even the services of professional
agencies in the field are also availed in this regard.