Sakaal Times
09 July 2010
By Supriya Shelar

Considering the correlation between anaemia and physical–mental health of children, Pune Obstetrics and Gynaecological Society (POGS) has been creating awareness through various programmes like a campaign ‘Anaemia Chale Jao’ for women and adolescent girls.

As part of this campaign, POGS has been demanding mandatory haemoglobin (Hb) and blood tests for school admission procedure and its regular follow–ups to maintain health records. The society has already communicated with the former Pune mayor for enforcing the mandatory tests in municipal schools.

"We are also communicating with various educational officers at Zilla Parishads and local bodies to do the same. Admirably, CEO of Pune ZP Dr Sanjeev Kumar had conducted a campaign last year, wherein over one lakh girl–students from the district were examined for Hb levels and given iron tablets," said president of Association of Maharashtra Obstetric and Gynaecological Society Dr Shirish Patwardhan.

Meanwhile, POGS has also launched a Think Tank. The topic for the upcoming meeting of the Think Tank is ‘Blood banking services and Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) reduction.’

"The POGS Think Tank for maternal mortality is a multidisciplinary platform to address the polygonal problem of very high and unremitting maternal mortality in India. It aims at finding consensus opinions and solutions to be forwarded to academicians, obstetricians, midwives and policy makers," said POGS president Dr Anand Shinde, who has taken a keen interest in developing the concept of the Think Tank for MMR Reduction.

He further said that a lot of early progress in MMR Reduction lies in environment and societal–political arena beyond routine obstetrics. "Ambulances, blood banks, trained midwife services all these and many more aspects are addressed by us in these Think Tank meetings, which are well attended by academics, administrators, practitioners. Attempt is made to release a CD on the theme and distribute it as a reference CD for students and practitioners," he added.

During the meeting of the Think Tank to be held on Sunday (July 11), faculty from blood banking services, Haematology, Obstetrics and ICU departments would interact at IMA Hall, Tilak Road.