The Haryana Health Department has made 70 Adolescent Friendly Health Clinics functional in 20 districts

Chandigarh: With a view to focus on the healthcare needs of adolescents, the Haryana health department has made 70 Adolescent Friendly Health Clinics (AFHCs) functional in 20 districts of the state, with immediate effect.

These AFHCs have been opened either at district hospitals or at community health centres.

"AFHCs have been started on the basis of ‘fixed day–fixed hour’ basis. These would run on every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. No registration fee would be charged from the patients coming to these clinics. We are expecting at least 3000 adolescents to visit these clinics every week," Haryana Health Minister Rao Narender Singh said.

"As the 10 to 18 years age group is also being covered under the ‘Indira Bal Swasthya Yojna’ (IBSY), so all the referrals would be made to these clinics. Around 172 doctors have been specially trained in adolescent–friendly health services. Trained doctors have been given special registers to maintain the privacy of the adolescent," Singh stated.

Besides, to mobilise and create awareness in issues concerning adolescent health, 187 block extension educators or lady health visitors and counselors have also been trained in adolescent health.

Rao said that adolescents between the age of 10 and 19 years constitute about 22 per cent of the state’s population.

"Health needs of adolescents have so far been neglected as there is relatively less mortality in this age group. However, this is a period of transition from childhood to adulthood characterised by rapid physical, biological and psychological changes resulting in psycho–social, behavioral and sexual maturation in an individual. Therefore we have moved our attention towards it," Rao said.