KOCHI: Puppet players, Ottamthullal performers and Naadanpattu singers are all set to hit the streets of Kerala. In a one-of-its-kind project, the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) has decided to rope in traditional artists and street players in its campaign to promote normal child delivery and nutrition. One performing art team each will be selected from seven chosen districts.The central government has allocated Rs 3 crore for the project.“This is part of the government’s two-pronged strategy to bring about behavioural change. While lectures and formal workshops can create awareness among doctors, they are not very effective when it comes to the public, while folk arts and other art performances would catch their attention. There will be interactive sessions where people can raise questions and clear doubts at the end of the performance,” Ernakulam District NRHM Officer and nodal officer for the programme K V Beena said.The campaign on normal Child delivery will be initiated in four states including Ernakulam, Pathanamthitta, Kollam and Alapuzha.“According to the statistics gathered from government hospitals in the state, more than 60 per cent of the cases of cesarean deliveries take place in these four districts. Similarly, lowest nutrition and subsequent health issues are reported from the others. In order to tackle this sort of health issue what one needs is a behavioural change both among doctors and the public,” Senior Consultant, Behavioral Change Communications, NRHM Kerala, Premjit P said.The performances would be carried out on the streets till March next year.
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