Health Ministry takes visual route to catch youngsters' eye

Will design posters for public spaces, identify adolescents in neighbourhoods nationwide as peer educators to share age-appropriate knowledge on health and gender issues.

Soon, schools, hospitals and other public facilities frequented by youngsters will have bright, colourful posters meant to draw their attention. This is the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s (MoHFW) latest attempt to reach out to inquisitive adolescents on issues such as sexual and mental health.

“The posters will be put up in schools and public facilities, health centres, hospitals etc. They will cover topics such as marriage, studies, and sexual and mental health,” Dr Sushma Dureja, Deputy Commissioner, Adolescent Health Division, MoHFW, said.

“We will focus on six strategic priorities: nutrition, sexual and reproductive health, non-communicable diseases, substance misuse, injuries and violence (including gender-based violence), and mental health,” she said.

The posters will also have a toll-free helpline number youngsters can call on in case of queries. The project, in association with the United Nations Population Fund (UNPF), is being undertaken under the Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK) programme.

The posters are part of the Saathiya Resource Kit launched by the Union Health Ministry on Monday, along with a mobile app ‘Saathiya Salah’.

In due time

One of the key interventions under RKSK to be put in place next is the setting up of peer educators (Saathiyas). “Two boys and two girls will be identified from each neighbourhood to become peer educators. These educators will work on raising awareness on adolescent health services and impart age appropriate knowledge on key issues to their peer groups,” said Dr Dureja.

Peer educators will be trained across the country in a phased manner, ensuring optimum use of the “resource kit” launched. The kit contains a range of communication material including short films to be played by peer educators at group meetings, an activity book, and games designed to bring up discussions and resolve queries.

“India is home to the highest adolescent population at 253 million. The kit will enable 1.6 lakh peer educators in taking their job forward and answering queries effectively,” CK Mishra, Secretary, MoHFW, said.