Youngsters told to become foot soldiers of Health Dept

Tribune News Service
Patiala, October 16

In a unique initiative, “Foot Soldiers of Punjab”, by the State Health Department, the District Health Department has asked youngsters to 

play an active role in reporting any health-related deaths, including due to drug overdose, in their vicinity.

In a mass appeal today, the Health Department asked the youngsters to become ‘foot soldiers’ of the department by registering through a web portal or by mobile-android application “Foot Soldier of Punjab”.

Giving more information regarding this programme, Civil Surgeon Dr Harish Malhotra said any youngster between the age of 16 and 30 years could register himself as a foot soldier. Under the programme, youngsters will do online reporting of morbidity and mortality in their vicinity.

The Civil Surgeon said through the portal, the youngsters would report any maternal, infant or child death, any drug-related death, any unattended healthcare condition such as home delivery, uncovered villages for immunisation, etc., which requires the attention of the Health Department.

He said the foot soldiers would act as an additional source of information apart from the existing infrastructure of the department.

He said confidentiality of information by these volunteers would be maintained. Foot soldiers will be awarded points for each authentic and credible reporting. The active lot will be honoured and felicitated with certificates and medals by the state authorities.