- With the technical support of UNICEF, all the concerned departments will jointly prepare an effective action plan.
- Healthy mothers and healthy children are the strongest foundation of a developed Chhattisgarh – Chief Minister Shri Sai
Ms. Cynthia McCaffrey, UNICEF Representative in India, paid a courtesy call on Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai today at Mahanadi Bhawan, Mantralaya. During the meeting, detailed discussions were held on maternal and child health, malnutrition eradication, and child overall development. Chief Minister Sai stated that the state government is giving top priority to maternal and child health and child nutrition, and that coordinated efforts by all departments are essential for sustainable improvement in these areas. Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai stated that healthy mothers and healthy children are the strongest foundation of a developed Chhattisgarh. He urged all relevant departments, including the Health and Family Welfare, Women and Child Development, Panchayat and Rural Development, and Tribal Development Departments, to develop a coordinated and result-oriented action plan with the technical support of UNICEF to reduce infant mortality, maternal mortality, and malnutrition. The Chief Minister stated that the impact of schemes will be maximized only when various departments work with a common goal and coordinated approach. He urged officials to develop a multi-sectoral strategy that effectively reaches the last person and ensures qualitative improvement in children’s nutrition levels.
On this occasion, Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai warmly welcomed Ms. Cynthia McCaffrey by presenting her with a shawl and a Nandi, a symbol of Chhattisgarh’s cultural identity. Ms. McCaffrey also presented the Chief Minister with a special commemorative stamp issued by the Indian Postal Department to commemorate UNICEF’s 75th anniversary in India. UNICEF India Representative Ms. Cynthia McCaffrey greeted the Chief Minister with a “Jai Johar” (Victory to the Father). She remarked that Chhattisgarh is a state of natural beauty, rich culture, and simple people. She added that UNICEF has long been working with the state government in the fields of maternal and child health, nutrition, and child protection. She expressed confidence that the joint efforts of the state government and UNICEF will ensure a safer, healthier, and more prosperous future for the state’s children. Cabinet members, Chief Secretary Shri Vikassheel, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Shri Subodh Kumar Singh, Chief of UNICEF in Chhattisgarh Ms. Seema Kumar, Shri Anil Gulati, and Dr. Bal Paritosh Das were present at the meeting.
