Jaipur, An important Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) was signed with Tata Trust and ‘Antara’ Foundation for programme
‘Akshada’ on Monday here at Chief Minister’s office in the presence of Chief
Minister Smt. Vasundhara Raje and Shri Ratan Tata, Chairman of Tata Trusts. The
programme aims at improving the status of maternal and child health in the
state.
The programme ‘Akshada’will focus on the crucial
‘1000 days’ between conception and till completion two years’ age of a child
and will include the most critical areas like maternal anaemia, neo-natal
mortality and improving immunization. The programme would deploy interventions
that could greatly reduce the levels of malnutrition amongst children under
five.
In the beginning, the programme will focus
intensively in Jhalawar and Sirohi districts. The innovations once successful
in these districts, will be replicated, amplified and rolled out across the
state. The Tata Trusts are funding this flagship programme and the Antara
Foundation, will implement the programme in the focused districts.
Chief Minister, Smt. Vasundhara Raje on the
occasion said, “there is plenty of scope to improve the health status of women
and young children in State. We believe that private partnership in the
programme for improving maternal and child health and bettering the nutrition
status will take Rajasthan a long away in emerging as a State with health
indicators at par with India’s best.” She laid stress on active participation
of ASHA workers with this programme.
She said that, the signing of MoU with Tata
Trust & Antrara Foundation in the presence of Shri Ratan Tata is a proud
moment for the state and we are excited about the programme. She said, “the
willingness shown by Tata Trust Chairman for improvement in maternal and child
health in Rajasthan is a welcoming
step.”
Chairman of Tata Trusts Shri Ratan Tatasaid
that, “The Tata Trusts’ new initiative in addressing the problem of
malnutrition amongst mothers and infant children will have a positive impact on
millions of children in terms of their improved health and resistance to
illness and physical and mental deformity at birth.
He said the Trust chose Rajasthan for this
programme as Rajasthan Chief Minister has the vision of development and she
wants to bring transforming changes to the state. We are most appreciative
and thankful for the enormous support that we are receiving from the Chief
Ministerand the Government of Rajasthan, he said. We look forward to this
partnership between Tata Trust and Rajasthan Government making a difference in
the health of the future generation, he added.
Executive Director of the Antara Foundation Shri
Ashok Alexander gave detailed presentation about the aims and objectives of the
Akshada programme. He was hopeful that
after the success of the programme Rajasthan will see new trajectory in its
health outcomes and will emerge as a model at national and global level for
health transformation.
Chief Secretary C. Rajan gave opening
remarks about the MoU. Principal Secretary, Medical & Health Shri Mukesh
Sharma signed the MoU on behalf of the State Government while Trustee of Tata
Trust Shri R. Venkatramanan signed on behalf of the Tata Trust and Shri Ashok
Alexander signed on behalf of the Antara Foundation.
Shiv Nadar, Founder and Chairman, HCL and a lead
sponsor of the Antara Foundation when contacted commented, “this programme
could transform the maternal and child health scenario in Rajasthan. The
positive approach of the State Government towards Public Private Partnership in
a sector like health is commendable. Antara has impressive credentials to lead
this ambitious programme on ground as well”.
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