Cooperatives to lead Goa’s drive for women’s health

Panaji: The department of cooperation has directed all cooperative societies, self-help groups (SHGs), federations, and affiliated institutions across Goa to play an active role in implementing the Swasth Nari, Sashakt Parivar Abhiyaan, a national health mission aimed at improving the well-being of women and adolescent girls.In a circular issued by registrar of cooperative societies, Ashutosh Apte, the department instructed these groups to mobilise women and adolescent girls to participate in free health check-ups being conducted at govt health facilities across the state.Cooperatives and SHGs have been asked to work closely with panchayats, health officers, ASHA and ANM community health workers, and anganwadis to ensure an effective field-level outreach.

They have also been encouraged to hold awareness sessions, health talks, and local campaigns to spread important information on preventive healthcare and early disease diagnosis.The department emphasised that community organisations must also encourage their family members to support women and girls in attending these health check-ups, ensuring no one is left out due to social or logistical barriers. All participating organisations have been directed to submit a report within 30 days, detailing their awareness and mobilisation activities to the department of cooperation for monitoring and record purposes.Officials said the initiative, part of the Centre’s Viksit Bharat 2047 mission, aims to make women’s health a shared community responsibility, transforming the campaign into a mass movement for empowerment and national progress.