The ‘Protocol for Management of Malnutrition in Children’ is scheduled to be unveiled at a national event at Vigyan Bhawan today. The event, chaired by the Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani, will witness the presence of Dr. Munjapara Mahendrabhai, the Minister of State for WCD and Ayush, along with the Secretaries of the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) and the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MH&FW).
Esteemed officers from WCD and Health Departments from various regions will be participating, alongside dignitaries and experts from international organizations such as UNICEF, Indian Medical Association (IMA), International Paediatric Association, Indian Academy of Paediatrics, World Health Organization (WHO), World Bank, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF).
Frontline functionaries, including CDPOs, Lady Supervisors, Anganwadi Workers, and ASHA workers from across the nation, are expected to attend. The Union Minister for Women and Child Development will felicitate Anganwadi Workers and ASHA workers from different States/UTs who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to managing malnutrition among children.
Addressing malnutrition requires collaborative efforts, and under the ‘Saksham Anganwadi and Mission Poshan 2.0’ initiative of the MWCD, a multi-sectoral approach is being employed in collaboration with key Line Ministries/Departments and strong support from States/Union Territories.
The event underscores the importance of Mission Poshan 2.0 in identifying and treating malnourished children. The initiative emphasizes the crucial role played by Anganwadi Centres and communities in identifying, treating, and managing malnourished children, with a focus on making informed decisions regarding referral to Nutritional Rehabilitation Centres (NRC) or medical assistance. This necessitates close collaboration between the Ministry of Women and Child Development and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
A notable aspect of the initiative is the introduction of the ‘Protocol for Management of Malnourished Children,’ a standardized national guideline developed by MWCD with inputs from MH&FW. This protocol provides detailed steps for identifying and managing malnourished children at the Anganwadi level, including decision-making for referral, nutritional management, and follow-up care, marking a significant departure from the traditional facility-based approaches for treating Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM).