Karnataka Boosts Teen Health Services

Karnataka has approved a significant expansion of its adolescent health services, enhancing the reach of its Sneha Centres and introducing integrated counselling units in government health facilities. These efforts are a key part of the Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK), a national program focused on improving the health and well-being of adolescents aged 10-19 years, implemented in the state since 2015-16.

The government's directive mandates the operationalization of counselling services at all levels of healthcare facilities, from district hospitals down to sub-centres. Where specific counsellors are unavailable, existing medical and paramedical staff will be trained to provide adolescent counselling. This expansion aims to address existing implementation gaps, such as the lack of Sneha clinics in 14 districts and vacant counsellor positions.

A notable component of this initiative is the creation of Samagra Samalochana Kendras (SSKs), an integrated counselling model for district, taluk, and community health centers. This model will pool counsellors from various programs, including mental health, non-communicable diseases, and TB, to offer cross-programmatic services. Additionally, the program will integrate with the Education Department, potentially designating school health ambassadors as nodal teachers and embedding awareness content into the curriculum.

Furthermore, the state plans to develop a consolidated resource module for adolescents by combining RKSK materials with content from the School Health and Wellness Programme and NIMHANS. A system to identify high-need children will be established, leading to specialized outpatient services, including paediatric, psychiatric, and orthopaedic consultations, organized monthly for identified cases.