'Radio Health' goes on air

Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 25 (UNI) The Ananthapuri FM Station of the All India Radio today started airing ''Radio Health,'' a community-driven health education programme by the National Rural Health Mission (Aryoga Keralam).

The 30-minute programme, launched with a view to create health awareness among people, would be transmitted four days in a week from Thursday to Sunday at 1530 hrs.

District Programme officer of the Aryogya Keralam Dr Sunil Kumar told UNI here that as a pilot project, the coverage area of the radio in the first phase would be entire Thiruvananthapuram, North up to Chavara and south up to Kanniyakumari. It would be later extended to all districts in phases.

The programmes would include phone-in-programmes, skits, discussions, experience of patients and doctors and awareness programmes.

Dr Sunil Kumar said the programmes would be produced by the Radio Health Clubs, to be set up in all parts of the state. It had already started 20 such clubs and in one year 500 such clubs would be started in schools, voluntary organisations, tribal and residential areas.

The Health Department would give a topic to these clubs which could produce programmes according to their taste and languages, he said.

However, before airing, an expert committee would preview the programmes, he added.

UNI CGV MDG GM SKB NS1829