Bhubaneswar: A dedicated youth wellness clinic named Tarunya was inaugurated by Principal and Dean Prof. Dr R.C. Das at the Paediatrics department at Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) here.
Designed to be a one-stop, adolescent-friendly health facility, the clinic focuses on the holistic wellbeing of adolescents aged 10 to 19 years.
Adolescence is recognised as a phase when young people are vulnerable. To address the often-overlooked health needs of adolescents and its complexities, Tarunya is being positioned as one of the first clinics of its kind in the country. It brings together specialists from Paediatrics, Psychiatry and Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Community Medicine under one roof.
The clinic is headed by Paediatrics professor Dr Swarnalata Das, who highlighted the need for a safe, confidential and supportive environment where adolescents can seek help without fear or stigma.
The youth wellness clinic will provide guidance on growth and puberty, menstrual health and PCOS, nutritional counselling, stress, anxiety and exam-related pressures, relationship and communication challenges, substance use counselling, sexual and reproductive health education, as well as age-appropriate vaccinations. In response to emerging concerns, services will also extend to parental conflict and pressing issues such as social media overuse and digital addiction.
The clinic aims to reach at least 5,000 adolescents in its first year, as it looks to evolve into a model framework for holistic adolescent healthcare.
The clinic, which will function every Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm, goes beyond treatment to place strong emphasis on prevention.
It will also organise health awareness programmes on safe and responsible media use, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and learning to say ‘no’ in schools, colleges and community settings.
