Loka Sangathan Samabesh kicks off at Sambalpur

As many as 210 organisations unanimously demanded the implementation of Health Rights Act and that the government should take necessary steps, at the Civil Society Conclave (Loka Sangathan Samabesh) held at Agrasen Bhawan in Sambalpur on Thursday.

Inaugurating the two-day conclave local MLA Dr Raseswari Panigrahi said that people in rural areas were yet to know about the health facilities and about the Health Rights Act. She also expressed her hope while appealing the civil societies and community leaders that they should try to make people aware about their rights.

She added “it as the duty of the civil society to generate awareness as people in remote villages are yet to get basic health services.” Sambalpur CDMO expressed his pleasure in saying that infant and maternal mortality rate was decreasing and it was really a good thing happening nowadays.

Social Activist Dillip Padhy about 210 organisations have been working for proper implementation of Janani Surakhsya Yojna, ICDS and Balanced Nutritional Programme in Sambalpur district and they succeeded in it.

Odisha Voluntary Heath Association General Secretary Khyamakar Swain along with PACS State Manager Sashikant Malik, Kanchan Patel of Jharsuguda, Sakuntala Patra of Debagarh and Kishori Majhi of Kalahandi graced the inaugural session of the conclave attended by 500 community leaders from 210 villages of Malkangiri, Nuapada, Deogarh, Jharsuguda and Sambalpur and threw light on basic health services being provided in rural areas and about practical problems.

Tulasi Madakami of Pragati Mahila Mahasangha formed with 60 Mahila Mandals and Kishori Clubs in Malkangiri expressed her concerns over infant mortality and malnutrition in her district.

Padma Tandi lamented that pregnant women in rural villages do not get basic health service and medicine. Community leader Sajamani Majhi complained that ambulance do not arrive at the villages despite repeated requests. Another community leader Pramila Majhi informed that one woman of her village had lost three children and she was struggling to save the fourth one due to lack of health services.

Community leaders took out a candle march and took the oath to spread awareness on health rights in every village. Sashikanta Malik of PACS informed that they were going to organize Loka Sangathan Utsav at Jahrsuguda, Koraput and Kandhamal to strengthen the local organizations.