Mumbai: To eradicate malnutrition from the state, the government is likely to issue a new Government Resolution (GR) which will measuredly include creating awareness and reaching infants suffering from Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) and Moderately Acute Malnutrition (MAM).
A senior official said that every month health data will be recorded by doctors and health check-up camps will be conducted to monitor the health of mothers and infants. The proposed measures include making a provision of food and medicines to infants, monitoring their health through data monitoring and creating awareness about the health and hygiene, especially of expecting mothers.
Currently, there are various schemes being implemented by the state government which include Take Home Ration (THR) programme, public distribution system (PDS), status of Supplementary Nutrition scheme (SN) and ready-to-use therapeutic food products to severely malnourished children.
Despite several schemes been implemented, the issue regarding malnourishment has not been solved. “In the last four months, the state has organised 82 medical camps with the help of private and public hospitals during which 6,481 children were checked. Of these, 2,945 children were diagnosed with moderate malnutrition and 1,493 were severely malnourished,” said a senior official.
The secretary of Health and Nutrition Mission Maharashtra said that the government is trying their best to tackle infant mortality and child death due to malnutrition. “Soon, a new GR will be issued by the state government. Moreover, we will be aiming for the tribal areas and villages where the children are malnourished,” said Vinita Ved Singhal, IAS and Principal Secretary.
She further stated that a special team will be set up to identify the problem of malnourishment and will also find a special way to tackle such issues. “The team will create awareness and educate parents to give healthy and nutritious food to their kids,” added Singhal. She also said the government will be following the Rajasthan module to tackle this issue. The Rajasthan government have taken steps like conducting programme between December 2015 and June 2016, 9,640 severe acute malnourished (SAM) children were treated, of whom 9,117 recovered completely.
There are provisions made in latest GR, to supply protein-based food with folic acid tablets to expecting mothers till the time the child grows up and is free from malnourishment issues. Supply of food grains will be ensured at the doorstep of every tribal home and regular check-ups would be done with the help of Anganwadi and the workers of women and child development department.
