Health Ministry signs MoU with the Ministry of Tribal Affairs

New Delhi, August 11, 2018: Shri J P Nadda, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare and Shri Jual Oram, Union Minister of Tribal Affairs today presided over an MoU signing ceremony between Ministry of Health and Ministry of Tribal Affairs for working in a cooperative partnership to improve the health and well-being of students in tribal schools. Shri Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Sudarshan Bhagat, Minister of State for Tribal Affairs along with Smt Preeti Sudan, Secretary (Health) and Shri Deepak Khandekar , Secretary of Tribal Affairs, were also present at the ceremony.

At the function, the Expert Committee on Tribal Health also submitted its detailed report with findings and recommendations jointly to the Union Health Minister, Shri J.P. Nadda and the Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Shri Jual Oram.

“In line with our government’s commitment to universal health coverage with priority accorded to the health needs of those who require it the most, our endeavor is to ensure that health concerns of the tribal population are holistically addressed,” Shri J P Nadda said at the function. He further added we have signed an MoU to move forward and improve the health indicators of the needy and poor. “Simultaneously, measures would have to be taken to ensure tribal population are co-opted and not left out,” Shri Nadda elaborated.

Shri Jual Oram assured that the Government will implement the recommendations of the report. He further said that the report presents a comprehensive review of health of the tribal population and there is a need to adapt strategies to bridge the existing gaps in health of the tribal population.