SHILLONG: F.R Kharkongor, commissioner and secretary of the sports and youth affairs, has called for aggressive social media campaign to address adolescent health problems.
Addressing a gathering at a Youth Festival held under the theme ‘A smart teenager, for a bright future’ on Saturday at U Soso Tham Auditorium here, F R Kharkongor, who was the chief guest, said, “Social media has become a part of everyday activity in everyone’s life. There is a need to initiate an aggressive and effective campaign to address adolescent health issues and problems by means of social media.”
The youth festival was organised by the Directorate of Health Services (Maternal Child Health and Family Welfare), National Health Mission, Meghalaya, in collaboration with the State Commission for Women and the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills.
F R Kharkongor said the festival will act as a vital and effective platform for the youth to interact with each other and share issues relating to adolescent health.
Stating that India has the largest population of adolescents in the world, Kharkongor said, “We need to work hard and take advantage of this demographic dividend by way of investing in our young people, not just to make them skilled economic assets, but as confident, healthy and well-protected persons who can take charge of their own lives as well as of the society.”
“But for young citizens to be healthy, responsible and active members of society, we need to ensure that the adolescents transit into adulthood in a protective and enabling environment. As adolescents flourish, so do communities, and all of us have a collective responsibility in ensuring that adolescence does in fact become an age of opportunity,” Kharkongor added.
Besides open interactions with experts and counsellors, the one-day festival included power point presentations on topics like ‘Importance of Nutrition for Adolescents’, ‘Reproductive and Sexual Health’, ‘Gender, Rights and Violence among Adolescent’ and ‘Cyber Crime and Social Media’.
Chairperson of the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights Meena Kharkongor, Director of Health Services Dr R.O Budnah, Director of Health Services (MCH&FW) cum Joint Mission Director, NHM Dr D. Lyngdoh, Joint Director of Health Services (MCH&FW) cum Nodal Officer RKSK Dr J. Lyngwa, Member of the Meghalaya State Commission for Women N.G Shylla, stakeholders, NGOs and representatives from various schools and localities were also present at the inaugural programme.
