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Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh – In a decisive move to combat female foeticide and address the gender imbalance in Uttar Pradesh, Governor Anandiben Patel has directed district authorities to conduct raids on ultrasound centres suspected of illegally facilitating sex-selective abortions. The announcement came during a review meeting of the Red Cross Society held at the Gandhi Meeting Hall on the collectorate campus in Pilibhit, as part of the Governor’s two-day official visit.
Raids to Enforce Law and Raise Awareness
Governor Patel instructed the district magistrate, chief medical officer, and Red Cross officials to form a dedicated team to carry out the raids. She emphasized that such action is crucial to enforcing the law prohibiting prenatal sex determination and to correcting the skewed male-to-female ratio in the state.
Patel also called for extensive awareness campaigns, particularly in rural areas, to educate the public that fetal testing for sex determination is a cognisable offence under Indian law. “Awareness is key to ending this practice,” she stated, urging officials to reach out to communities where the prevalence of female foeticide remains high.
Focus on Child Health and Education
Beyond the crackdown on illegal ultrasound practices, the Governor highlighted the need for organizing health camps across the district, with special attention to infants and children. She advocated for the promotion of homeopathic medicines, citing their ease of administration, minimal side effects, and cost-effectiveness compared to allopathic alternatives.
In a significant public health initiative, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Alok Kumar was tasked with ensuring HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccination for all 900 students of government-run Kasturba Kanya Vidyalayas (KKVs) in the district. The Red Cross will bear the cost of the vaccine, which is not currently supplied free of charge by the government.
Boosting Literacy and Reducing Dropout Rates
Governor Patel drew attention to the state’s literacy challenges, comparing Uttar Pradesh’s literacy rates (73% for males and 52% for females) to Gujarat’s higher figures (90% for males and 80% for females), achieved through the Centre’s Pravesh Utsav campaign. She urged local officials to develop effective strategies to promote primary education and reduce the high dropout rate among primary students in Uttar Pradesh.
Conservation Efforts
During her visit, Governor Patel also reviewed wildlife management and conservation efforts at the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve and visited the Chuka ecotourism spot, underscoring her commitment to holistic development in the region.
Disclaimer:
This article is based on information reported by the Economic Times Health and is intended for informational purposes only. For more details and the latest updates, please refer to the original article here. The information provided does not constitute legal or medical advice.
