Deputy Commissioner Kumar chairing a review meeting of the National Health Programs in Mandya on Monday 17 November. Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Deputy Commissioner Kumar on Monday expressed concern over the low number of institutional deliveries reported from 10 primary health centers (PHCs) in the district and directed officials to investigate the reasons behind the decline. Currently, 69% of births take place in government hospitals, he said.
The Deputy Commissioner, who chaired a meeting in his office to review the progress of national health programmes, stressed the need to ensure nutritional support and monitoring in high-risk pregnancies. He also instructed officials to promote safe births in institutions.
SAANS campaign
Dr. Kumar said that a special Social Awareness and Actions to Neutralize Pneumonia Successfully (SAANS) campaign has been launched in the district. The campaign, which started on November 12, will run until February 28, 2026 to prevent and eliminate pneumonia in young children. As part of the initiative, health workers will visit households with children aged 0-5 years, conduct health examinations and provide preventive vaccinations against pneumonia. He also released the SAANS campaign poster on the occasion.
Measures against illegal scanning and gender determination
Dr. Kumar also ordered that ultrasound scans should be conducted only on pregnant women who have a ‘Mother Card’ and warned against illegal scans and gender determinations that contribute to the fetisation of women.
He directed officials to conduct regular inspections at all scanning centers, prosecute individuals involved in illegal scanning and organize awareness campaigns to prevent female feticide.
The Deputy Commissioner further said that the sex ratio in Mandya district is only 935 girls per 1000 males and stressed the need for urgent measures to correct this imbalance.
District reproductive and child health officer Dr. KP Ashwath, Leprosy Eradication Officer Dr. Somasekhar, Tuberculosis Officer Dr. MN Ashalatha, Dr. Bettaswamy, former District Medical Officer Dr. TN Mari Gowda and other officials.
Published – 17 Nov 2025 21:09 IST
