Latest news with #AWW
Hindustan Times
15-05-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Fight against sex-selective abortions in Haryana: Treat mission as personal priority, says addl chief secy Sudhir Rajpal
In a yet another push to combat sex-selective abortions and improve the sex ratio in Haryana, additional chief secretary (ACS-health) Sudhir Rajpal on Wednesday issued a set of directives to all deputy commissioners (DCs), urging them to treat the fight against female foeticide as a personal priority. Chairing a state-wide meeting with all DCs, the ACS (Health) Rajpal reviewed the government's efforts under the flagship 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' campaign, stressing the need to intensify measures to curb female foeticide. Rajpal emphasised that the campaign against illegal gender detection and the unlawful distribution of medical termination of pregnancy (MTP) kits must be given top priority by the health department and district administrations. 'Treat this mission as a personal priority,' the ACS (Health) asked the DCs, adding that consistent, grassroots-level action is critical to achieving long-term results related to save the girl child programme. As part of this initiative, each district will set up a standing committee led by the DC, with the chief medical officer (CMO) serving as the member secretary. This committee will hold weekly meetings to monitor and enforce action plans, including inspections of MTP and ultrasound centres, tracking the illegal sale of MTP kits, and formulating strategies to stop sex determination practices. 'The issue of illegal abortions is a deep-rooted societal challenge that requires a whole-of-government approach, along with active community participation,' Rajpal said, directing DCs to ensure there is no illegal sale of MTP kits in their jurisdictions. Calling for regular inspections and strict enforcement, Rajpal said: 'Any doctor found engaging in sex-selective practices will face strict disciplinary action, including cancellation of their licence by the Haryana Medical Council.' The government has also decided that all abortions beyond 12 weeks must be thoroughly investigated—particularly when the couple already has one or more daughters. Civil surgeons will lead these investigations and closely monitor all suspicious MTP cases to ensure appropriate legal action is taken. To provide personalised support, every pregnant woman who already has one or more daughters will be assigned an ASHA or Anganwadi Worker (AWW) as a 'SAHELI' (companion) to counsel and monitor the pregnancy. Civil Surgeons will maintain records of these women and their assigned SAHELIs. In the event of an abortion, the concerned ASHA or AWW will be held accountable. The senior medical officer in charge of each community health centre (CHC) will serve as the nodal officer for all activities related to sex ratio improvement.
Daily Mail
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Sunrise star Edwina Bartholomew shares major relationship news after revealing shock living arrangement with husband
Edwina Bartholomew has revealed how her focus in life will now be her relationship with her husband Neil Varcoe. The Sunrise presenter, 41, told The Australian Women's Weekly in a video posted to social media on Tuesday that after her cancer diagnosis, she is keen to strengthen their bond. 'Now I'm just fully focused on family, on what we're creating here, on my husband, our marriage and the people closest to us' she said. 'So just determined to be surrounded by all those people that we love and determined to build the next chapter of our lives'. Edwina had earlier made a shock confession about her unique living situation with Neil following her chronic myeloid leukemia diagnosis. Earlier this month, Edwina confessed that they only see each other on the weekends and public holidays. Neil's chronic fatigue syndrome diagnosis prompted him to leave Sydney and relocate to regional New South Wales - a move she claims 'genuinely healed him'. 'That was a decision we had to make for ourselves a few years ago because what we were doing clearly wasn't working,' she told AWW. 'He lives three hours away from us, and we see him on weekends and holidays and back and forth, but it's been the best thing, and probably the only way we would have survived as a family.' The couple share two children, daughter Molly, five, and son Tom, three. Last year, Edwina revealed to Stellar Magazine that she and Neil had entered a long-distance relationship after he moved out of the family home to become a farmer. 'My husband lives in the country with the dog and I live in the city with the kids,' she said. 'Each weekend, we traipse back and forth between the two or meet somewhere in the middle.' It comes after Edwina shared an emotional cancer update at Marie Claire's International Women's Day luncheon in March. The TV star got candid at the event about how CML - a type of blood and bone marrow cancer - had impacted her life. 'I was fortunate that I had a month where I knew about it before I told everyone. I had this experience without having to go through the trauma of chemotherapy,' Edwina began. '[The cancer] was a gift, because it put things into perspective... I didn't have to go through a really intense experience of being 'in' cancer and absorbed by it.' Edwina added she was extremely grateful her symptoms were manageable and she was able to continue with most of the activities in her daily life. 'I had a meeting with my specialist this week and I forgot to go get my blood test. So, it is not front of mind for me,' she said. 'I am so conscious of what a gift that is, that I have been able to continue on semi-normal... I haven't had to tell my young kids, because I still look the same. It's been a real re-think in slowing myself down.' Edwina's diagnosis is a 'mild' form of leukaemia and can often be managed without having to undergo chemotheraphy.
