With the aim of helping and supplementing the efforts of the Union Government to implement the programme “Anaemia Mukt Bharat”, the Bansidhar & Ila Panda Foundation (BIPF) has launched “Kanya Express” — an innovative mobile health van — at Odisha’s Sukinda town.

This customised mobile health vehicle will visit far-flung villages, schools and regions located in 104 villages under 25 gram panchayats in Sukinda block this year. At these places the Kanya Express will check the haemoglobin levels of young girls and women, facilitate distribution of iron folic acid supplements and deworming tablets through Government networks while creating an awareness on anaemia-related illnesses, wellness and balanced nutrition.

Adolescent girls will be provided seed kits that will help them create a nutri-garden at their houses to enable them to have nutrition supplements at home.

Besides these vital health-related activities, Kanya Express will work in close collaboration with different Government officers including the chief district medical officer, district social welfare officer and district education officer to help and address development issues of adolescent girls in Sukinda.

Talking to the media about Kanya Express, Shaifalika Panda, BIPF’s Chief Executive Officer said: “Kanya Express will be a game changer for adolescent girls, helping them understand nutritional needs and address anaemia-related challenges. This project has been introduced with an objective to reduce the intergenerational challenges caused due to anemia and poor nutrition and in turn, reduce MMR and IMR in the area.”