Basti, Auraiya bag PFI award for faring high on health parameters

LUCKNOW: Significant improvement by Basti and Auraiya districts on at least 20 health indicators is being acknowledged and awarded by the civil society, a government spokesperson said on Friday. The two districts are being conferred with the seventh JRD Tata Memorial Award started by Population Foundation of India (PFI) to acknowledge and fete efforts made by states and districts to improve access to reproductive health needs."The two districts have been selected as the best performing district under the high focus large states - moderate wealth level category for the seventh JRD Tata Memorial Awards," an official communique said. The award, that comes with a financial assistance of Rs two lakh, would be presented to the district magistrates from the two places at an official ceremony scheduled in New Delhi on December 18. Chairman Tata Sons, N Chandrasekaran would speak on the occasion in the presence of PFI governing board chairperson Dr K Srinath Reddy.The spokesperson said the two districts were evaluated on 20 parameters across eight categories comprising anaemia, child health and nutrition, family planning, marriage and fertility, maternal health, safe delivery, water sanitation and hygiene and women empowerment.The improvement was assessed based on the district's performance in the fifth national family health survey with score in the fourth survey as the base. "The award is based on the recommendations of a prestigious independent third party technical advisory committee (USAID) and their evaluation speaks for our success too," said a senior health officer.Delighted over progress made by their districts, the two DMs credited the success to the district health office and its staff. "Health is one area where efforts put in today often show up in years down the line. Numbers speak for effort put in a sustained way over the years," said Andra Vamsi, DM Basti who congratulated health and district administration for being instrumental in this progress.DM Auraiya, Neha Prakash said "selection of the district involves the participation of everyone."