RKSK concludes

Addressing the gathering during the closing ceremony, Additional Chief Secretary, P W Ingty  said that the RKSK is an important programme that targets a crucial phase in the life of a person the adolescence which is a period of transition from childhood to adulthood.

He added that this time in a person’s life has a bearing on the well being a person the rest of his life thus it is important to take care of this stage he said.

The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare launched the RKSK on January 7, 2014.

The RKSK a health programme for adolescents in the age group of 10-19 years targeted their nutrition, reproductive health and substance abuse among other issues.

The key principle of this programme is adolescent participation and leadership, equity and inclusion, gender equity and strategic partnerships with other sectors and stakeholders with objectives to improve nutrition, improve sexual and reproductive health, enhance mental health, prevent injuries and violence and prevent substance misuse and abuse.

The programme envisions enabling all adolescents in India to realize their full potential by making informed and responsible decisions related to their health and well being and by accessing the services and support they need to do so. RKSK realigns the existing clinic-based curative approach to focus on a more holistic model based on a continuum of care for adolescent health and developmental needs. It also introduced community based interventions through peer educators.

As a part of the closing ceremony a musical extravaganza was conducted to stage young artists who performed to advocate the importance of adolescent health. The Closing Ceremony coinciding with Valentine’s Day, a significant day for young people, the event was aptly themed ‘Love yourself enough, choose health first.’ Various activities like food stalls, games, photo booth, artistic booths and stalls were other attractions of the Closing Ceremony.

Among others present were Secretary, Health & Family Welfare etc Pravin Bakshi and other senior officials from the Health department.

By Our Reporter