MUMBAI: Private channels and public broadcasters will have to do their bit to create awareness about health related issues. Union health minister Sushma Swaraj asserts that this proposition was put forth at the recent IEC (Information, education and communication programmes) meetings and she will aggressively pursue the same.
Swaraj was in Mumbai last Saturday (29 March) to participate in the inaugural ceremony of the "TB week" being organised by BJP MP Kirit Somaiya's Yuvak Pratisthan in central Mumbai. While speaking to indiantelevision.com, Swaraj said: "Proper remedies and adequate awareness are two important aspects of tackling dangerous diseases. Private broadcasters must also help to create awareness about health related issues and vector borne dangerous diseases. Doordarshan is doing its bit but more efforts are required."
Swaraj said the health ministry has earmarked Rs 1.01 billion for creating awareness about the various aspects of family welfare schemes.
DD Bharati has recently announced a nine-and-a-half hour time band for health and fitness related shows. Amongst the new shows are Swastha Bharat - a live phone health show about common health problems including preventive & curative aspects - discussed by a panel of reputed doctors.
Several market concessionaires and producers of top DD serials say that they are getting good advertising support from the Union health ministry. Recent examples have been the TB campaign which was promoted on all DD channels across the country in March.