In India, malnourishment in children (stunting, wasting and underweight) under 5 years has reduced as per National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-5 (2019-21) from 38.4% to 35.5%, 21.0% to 19.3% and 35.8% to 32.1% respectively as compared to NFHS-4 (2015-16). Malnutrition among women aged 15-49 years has also reduced from 22.9% to 18.7%. There are interstate and inter district variations. There is still a long way to go.
To tackle the issue of malnourishment, the government has initiated Poshan Pakhwada (Nutrition Fortnight) to sensitise people to adopt health eating habits and lifestyles. The campaign will run from March 9-23, 2024 at all Anganwadi centres (AWCs) targeting children aged 0-6 years, adolescents, pregnant women and lactating mothers.
Campaign will focus on Poshan bhi Padhai Bhi (Nutrition and Education both) focusing on better early childhood care and education (ECCE); local, traditional, regional and tribal dietary practices; health of pregnant women; and Infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices.
Other activities such as water conservation at AWCs, promoting sustainable food systems through millet use, adopting health lifestyles through AYUSH practices, diarrhoea management, awareness on anaemia-test, treat and talk, Swasth Balak Sapardha (Health Child Competition) to promote growth monitoring of the children.
Since the launch of the Nutrition Mission in 2018, 5 Poshan Pakhwada and 6 Poshan Maah (Nutrition Month) have been organised across the country in 1.396 million AWCs.
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 will be organised to sensitise people to adopt health eating habits and lifestyles. The campaign will run from March 9-23, 2024 at all Anganwadi centres (AWCs) targeting children aged 0-6 years, adolescents, pregnant women and lactating mothers.){kind=link}