Press Release
Press Release from Women, Child, Senior Citizen, and Divyangjan Welfare Department
Information & Public Relations Department
Gangtok, September 09: The Women, Child, Senior Citizen and Divyangjan Welfare Department, under the banner of the District Hub for Empowerment of Women (DHEW), Gangtok District, successfully conducted an Awareness Programme on the Prevention of Common Health Issues at Government Secondary School, Sang Tshalamthang.
The programme focused on anaemia in adolescent girls and women, as well as on cancers affecting women, with emphasis on prevention, early detection, and related health measures.
The programme was attended by Headmaster Mr. Suraj Kumar Sharma, along with the staff and students of the school, who actively participated in the session.
The Resource Person, Mr. Pritam Silal, Health Educator, District Hospital Singtam, addressed the gathering and gave a detailed talk on anaemia—its causes, symptoms, prevention, and management—particularly in adolescent girls and women. He explained that:
• Good nutrition is the foundation of health, and malnutrition/deficiencies affect growth, productivity, and immunity.
• Anaemia is one of the most common nutritional health problems, caused mainly by iron deficiency, folic acid deficiency, Vitamin B12 deficiency, chronic diseases, or blood loss.
• Signs and symptoms include fatigue, weakness, pale skin, shortness of breath, dizziness, brittle nails, and hair loss.
• Risk groups include adolescent girls, pregnant women, young children, the elderly, and those with poor dietary intake.
• Nutritional management requires consumption of iron-rich foods (green leafy vegetables, meat, beans, jaggery), Vitamin C foods (citrus, guava, tomatoes), folic acid sources (pulses, spinach, nuts), and Vitamin B12 sources (dairy, eggs, fish, meat). He also advised reducing tea/coffee with meals as they inhibit iron absorption.
• Prevention and control measures include a balanced diet with iron, folate, and B12, supplementation with IFA tablets, deworming, health education, and screening in schools/ANC clinics.
• He further highlighted the public health importance, stressing that anaemia reduces learning capacity, work productivity, and immunity, increases maternal and infant mortality, and affects national health and economic growth.
• Finally, he concluded that anaemia is preventable and treatable, and tackling it requires collective effort from individuals, families, and communities.
Following this, Ms. Reema Hangma Subba, Specialist in Financial Literacy (DHEW), delivered a short but impactful talk on Nasha Mukth Bharat and ongoing issues related to drug abuse. She motivated students to stay away from harmful substances and encouraged them to spread awareness among peers and community members.
Speaking on the occasion, Headmaster Mr. Suraj Kumar Sharma expressed heartfelt gratitude and deep appreciation for the programme. He stated that the information shared was extremely valuable, timely, and much needed for both students and the community. He mentioned that the students were motivated and willing to follow the guidance given by the resource person. The Headmaster further added that programmes of this kind should not be limited only to schools but should also be conducted in the wider community of Sang Tshalamthang, as they provide essential knowledge that benefits everyone. He thanked the organizers for bringing such an important initiative to the school and encouraged more such sessions in the future.
The session concluded with a Vote of Thanks by Ms. Manikala Gurung, Social Welfare Officer, who expressed her sincere gratitude to the resource persons, school authorities, headmaster, staff, and students for their cooperation and enthusiastic participation. She also appreciated the warm reception extended by the school. Additionally, she delivered an informative talk on Health and Hygiene to both students and teachers, promising that more such programmes would be organized in the future for the well-being of the people.
The programme focused on anaemia in adolescent girls and women, as well as on cancers affecting women, with emphasis on prevention, early detection, and related health measures.
The programme was attended by Headmaster Mr. Suraj Kumar Sharma, along with the staff and students of the school, who actively participated in the session.
The Resource Person, Mr. Pritam Silal, Health Educator, District Hospital Singtam, addressed the gathering and gave a detailed talk on anaemia—its causes, symptoms, prevention, and management—particularly in adolescent girls and women. He explained that:
• Good nutrition is the foundation of health, and malnutrition/deficiencies affect growth, productivity, and immunity.
• Anaemia is one of the most common nutritional health problems, caused mainly by iron deficiency, folic acid deficiency, Vitamin B12 deficiency, chronic diseases, or blood loss.
• Signs and symptoms include fatigue, weakness, pale skin, shortness of breath, dizziness, brittle nails, and hair loss.
• Risk groups include adolescent girls, pregnant women, young children, the elderly, and those with poor dietary intake.
• Nutritional management requires consumption of iron-rich foods (green leafy vegetables, meat, beans, jaggery), Vitamin C foods (citrus, guava, tomatoes), folic acid sources (pulses, spinach, nuts), and Vitamin B12 sources (dairy, eggs, fish, meat). He also advised reducing tea/coffee with meals as they inhibit iron absorption.
• Prevention and control measures include a balanced diet with iron, folate, and B12, supplementation with IFA tablets, deworming, health education, and screening in schools/ANC clinics.
• He further highlighted the public health importance, stressing that anaemia reduces learning capacity, work productivity, and immunity, increases maternal and infant mortality, and affects national health and economic growth.
• Finally, he concluded that anaemia is preventable and treatable, and tackling it requires collective effort from individuals, families, and communities.
Following this, Ms. Reema Hangma Subba, Specialist in Financial Literacy (DHEW), delivered a short but impactful talk on Nasha Mukth Bharat and ongoing issues related to drug abuse. She motivated students to stay away from harmful substances and encouraged them to spread awareness among peers and community members.
Speaking on the occasion, Headmaster Mr. Suraj Kumar Sharma expressed heartfelt gratitude and deep appreciation for the programme. He stated that the information shared was extremely valuable, timely, and much needed for both students and the community. He mentioned that the students were motivated and willing to follow the guidance given by the resource person. The Headmaster further added that programmes of this kind should not be limited only to schools but should also be conducted in the wider community of Sang Tshalamthang, as they provide essential knowledge that benefits everyone. He thanked the organizers for bringing such an important initiative to the school and encouraged more such sessions in the future.
The session concluded with a Vote of Thanks by Ms. Manikala Gurung, Social Welfare Officer, who expressed her sincere gratitude to the resource persons, school authorities, headmaster, staff, and students for their cooperation and enthusiastic participation. She also appreciated the warm reception extended by the school. Additionally, she delivered an informative talk on Health and Hygiene to both students and teachers, promising that more such programmes would be organized in the future for the well-being of the people.