To launch awareness programmes on birth defects
KARIMNAGAR, MARCH 27, 2024: First of its kind, the Karimnagar Neonatology forum (KNF) was constituted in a district outside Hyderabad city in Karimnagar district to launch awareness programmes on birth defects.
KNF was constituted with Dr Ch Laxman Kumar as its president, Dr G Rammohan as secretary, Dr V Satish Reddy as its treasurer. At a programme organised at IMA hall in Karimnagar town on Wednesday, KNF leaders along with Karimnagar Academy of Peadiatrics (KAP) president Kolluri Ramesh, secretary Dr GV Harish and treasurer Raghunath, IMA Karimnagar chapter president Dr RamKiran, secretary Dr Venkat Reddy PG students from Chalmeda Anand Rao institute of medical sciences and Prathima institute of medical sciences participated in the programme of release of posters on birth defects awareness campaign.
Speaking on the occasion, KNF president Dr Laxman Kumar said that there is urgent need to address the birth defects to lower the child mortality. Accordingly, the Union government had launched the ‘Rashtriya Bal Swasthaya Karyakram’ and declared the March month as National Birth Defect Awareness month 2024 and launch a campaign to raise the awareness for the cause, he stated and added the KNF would play a major role in creating awareness to check birth defects.
Explaining about the birth defects especially club food, hearing impairments, retinal defects, cleft clips, congenital diseases etc, he said that these impair the child’s future and even the family feel isolated knowing the issues of birth defects. Stating that the neonatal mortality rate is 20 per 1,000 live births and infant mortality rate is 28 per 1,000 live births, he said that by the year 2030 neonatal mortality and IMR should come down to less than 10 per 1,000 live births.
Appealing medical students to opt for Paedetrics in PG to support and strengthen child health as children are most vulnerable to defects detected at birth, he said that they would educate the people about the birth defects and regular health-check up of infants. “Particularly for neural tube defect (NTDs), the modality of Folic Acid supplementation works immensely. Time has come that we need to take Folic acid supplementation to the highest level. Pre-pregnancy care is significant for a woman, nutritional status, BMI, Thyroid and UTI etc. should also be taken care as this would help in healthy child birth”, he added. Senior peadiatricians Dr Polladi Srinivas Rao, Dr B Rajender and others were also present.
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