Kanya Express – An Initiative To Combat Anaemia Among Adolescent Girls – is being expanded by the Bansidhar & Ila Panda Foundation (BIPF).
The Bansidhar and Ila Panda Foundation (BIPF) announced the extension of its revolutionary mobile health van venture, “Kanya Express,” today during a launch event in Rayagada’s Therubali. Kanya Express aims to combat anaemia in adolescent girls.
Kanya Express, which debuted in 2021, has aided the government’s Anaemia Mukta Bharat (AMB) initiative, aiding around 9,977 girls in 158 villages in the Odisha districts of Cuttack and Jajpur. After seeing tremendous success in addressing anemia in several parts of its operations, the group has now expanded the program to an additional 92 villages spread across nine gram panchayats in Therubali, Rayagada, a tribal-dominated aspirational district.
The Kanya Express mobile health van is an important weapon in the fight against adolescent girls’ anaemia. It examines hemoglobin levels on a regular basis, promotes the administration of Iron Folic Acid supplements and Deworming tablets via the government network, and teaches girls about overall health. Furthermore, BIPF gives seed kits for people to construct nutri-gardens in their homes, assuring access to sufficient nourishment.
Bansidhar & Ila Panda Foundation
Ms. Shaifalika Panda, Trustee and Founder CEO of Bansidhar and Ila Panda Foundation, stated of the program, “We are pleased to expand the reach of the Kanya Express initiative to Therubali, Rayagada after witnessing a positive impact on the lives of adolescents in Cuttack and Jajpur.” Raising knowledge among adolescent girls about anaemia-related disorders, balanced nutrition, and reproductive rights can have far-reaching consequences, including increased enrollment in higher education and continuity of education, leading to a more productive future.”
At the launch ceremony, honorable guests included Sri. Goura Chandra Pattanayak, OAS, BDO, Kolonara, Smt.BijayLaxmi Sahu, CDPO, Kolonara, Sarapanch, Samiti Members of Peripheral GPs, eminent localities, Opinion Makers and Social Workers, IMFA & BIPF team, and others.
The anemia burden in India has risen rapidly, according to the NFHS-5 (2019-21), with 57% of women aged 15-49 and 67% of children aged six months to 59 months suffering from anemia.
BIPF is committed to improving the well-being and empowerment of teenage girls and is convinced that the Kanya Express initiative will continue to make a difference in the lives of young girls across Odisha.
