India, Jan. 15 -- The public health department of Maharashtra on Tuesday conducted a state-level meeting in Pune to review healthcare services and key health programmes, as the state steps up efforts to meet critical targets under major national and state initiatives by March 31, health officials said on Wednesday.

A decision was taken to launch a special drive that will focus on nine priority areas - sickle cell, child health, severe anaemia among pregnant women, surgeries for lymphatic filariasis patients, nutritional support for tuberculosis patients, leprosy prevention, malaria control in Gadchiroli, screening for non-communicable diseases, and handover of completed health facility buildings.

Under the campaign, districts have been ...