Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava today visited the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Mangalagiri, Andhra Pradesh, to review the ongoing activities under Swachhata Pakhwada. Addressing the gathering, the Union Health Secretary said that Swachhata Pakhwada is being implemented in alignment with the vision of Swachh Bharat, emphasizing cleanliness as a fundamental pillar of national development. She added that the initiative focuses on strengthening the preventive and promotive aspects of healthcare. She highlighted that cleanliness and sanitation are critical enablers of preventive healthcare, as these contribute significantly to reducing disease burden and improving public health outcomes. The Secretary further appreciated AIIMS Mangalagiri for its proactive role in delivering inclusive, accessible, and quality healthcare services, particularly in the domain of super-speciality care. The Swachhata Pakhwada 2026 is being organised by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and is being observed from the 1st to the 15th of April across all its hospitals and institutes.