Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the ‘Swasth Nari, Sashakt Parivar Abhiyaan’ on September 17, coinciding with the eighth edition of Poshan Maah, the annual nutrition month.
The initiative is being described by the government as India’s largest-ever women and child health mobilisation drive, with a focus on preventive, promotive, and curative health services for women, adolescent girls, and children.
The Abhiyaan is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD). It aims to strengthen healthcare access for vulnerable groups, particularly women and children, by addressing pressing issues like anaemia, malnutrition, tuberculosis, sickle cell disease, and cancers.
Between September 17 and October 2, more than one lakh health camps will be organised across India. Every government health facility will host daily camps during this fortnight-long initiative.
These camps will provide services such as:
Screening for non-communicable diseases (NCDs)
Maternal health check-ups
Nutrition counselling
Cancer screenings
Awareness on mental health and lifestyle diseases
Menstrual hygiene promotion
Union Health Minister J P Nadda emphasized the campaign’s significance in enhancing access, quality of care, and public awareness. In a post on X, he stated that the initiative is designed to strengthen healthcare for women and children, while also appealing to private hospitals and stakeholders to actively participate in this Jan Bhagidari (people’s participation) movement.
The campaign will see participation from:
ASHA and Anganwadi workers
Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs)
Self-help groups and panchayati raj institutions
Youth volunteers under the MY Bharat initiative
Additionally, specialist services in gynaecology, paediatrics, dermatology, ophthalmology, psychiatry, and dentistry will be made available at AIIMS, ESIC, CGHS facilities, district hospitals, and government medical colleges, along with support from private hospitals.
The fortnight-long programme will include:
Anaemia and nutrition testing
TB and sickle cell disease screening
Cancer detection camps
Immunisation drives
Antenatal care sessions
Blood donation drives
AYUSH-based wellness activities such as yoga
To strengthen digital health integration, beneficiaries will also be linked to services such as Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts (ABHA) and PM-JAY.
The initiative will not remain confined to the health sector. A wide array of ministries—including Rural Development, Education, Youth Affairs, Tribal Affairs, Social Justice, Defence, Railways, and Ayush—will collaborate to ensure maximum outreach and impact.
The ‘Swasth Nari, Sashakt Parivar Abhiyaan’ goes beyond being a short-term campaign—it represents a transformative national movement dedicated to improving the health and well-being of women and children across India.
By combining preventive health screenings, nutrition counselling, awareness sessions, and lifestyle guidance, the programme ensures that women and children at the grassroots level have access to vital healthcare services that were often out of reach.
The involvement of ASHA and Anganwadi workers, youth volunteers, and local self-help groups makes the campaign truly people-driven, reinforcing the principle of Jan Bhagidari (citizen participation).
Moreover, by linking beneficiaries to digital health platforms such as ABHA and PM-JAY, the initiative aims to create a sustainable, technology-driven healthcare ecosystem. Ultimately, this campaign is aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a Viksit Bharat (developed India) by 2047, where a healthy population forms the foundation of a prosperous and empowered nation.