Child health an election issue in India

By: Joan Nirupa, India Media Relations and Communications; World Vision India

Make child health an election issue! That’s the message conveyed to the leaders of the political parties in the run-up to the Assembly election in the states of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

With the assembly elections in three states scheduled for mid to late November, it was the right time to raise the issue of maternal and child health through forum,  public announcements and meeting with political parties. 

Make child health an election issue!

In state-level events organised by World Vision India’s Child Health Now (CHN), NGO representatives government officials, adolescent girls and women came together to ask the government and political parties to prioritise child health in the upcoming state elections in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

World Vision’s Child Health Now (CHN) works in seven states across India to address MDGs 4 and 5, especially reducing child mortality and improving maternal health.

World Vision India works in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhatisgarh and Rajasthan through 24 area development programmes. CHN works with partner agencies and groups to call for better accountability and political will in making child and maternal health a priority. The communities are mobilised to speak out and demand their basic rights to better access to health care services.

“These events are especially relevant in all these three states, which have very high infant and maternal mortality rates. Moreover if the children appealed to the Governments, their voices would be heard,” said Newton Isaac, Director - CHN, World Vision India.

The events held in  October, 2013 brought together nearly 200 people to discuss the state of maternal and child health and evolve children-based recommendations on improving the situation. These recommendations and demands were then presented to leaders of major political parties in the three states.

“This is a very timely initiative with all three states going to elections this month. This was an appropriate time to raise this very important, but often neglected issue,” says Sunand Singh, Campaign officer, Child Health Now, World Vision India.

Through group discussions and interactive sessions, the participants came up with practical recommendations, which included formation of mother committees, distribution of micro-nutrition kit, beter water and sanitation facilities, reward schemes for health and child care workers, e-monitoring of the integrated child development services (ICDS) scheme and others. 

“The issue of child and maternal health is very important. It should be addressed by all parties whether they are elected or not,” said Mr. Satya Narayan Gupta from the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Mr. Ram Kishan, spokesperson, Socialist Party, congratulated the organisers and partners on raising such an important issue during the election.
Badlav Sansthan, one of partners of CHN in this initiative, will organise a Voter’s awareness campaign, calling for the public to demand the inclusion of maternal and child health in the election manifesto.

Find more news from World Vision India HERE.
Take a look at the Election Toolkit to campaign for the MDGs.