World Vision India entreats government, civil society organizations, community members to join hands to reduce Malnutrition, Childhood Illness from Odisha

 

Bhubaneswar: World Vision India (WVI), a grass root humanitarian organization organised a state-level consultation at the IDCOL Bhawan, in Bhubaneshwar today on ‘Reducing Malnutrition and Childhood Illnesses in Odisha’. The consultation included a panel discussion on ‘Convergence and Partnerships for Addressing Under-Nutrition in Odisha’. The panelists discussed the need for a multi-sectoral approach to develop partnerships and strategies to scale up maternal and child health services in the state. The panelists analysed India’s nutrition landscape and reiterated the need to develop a comprehensive state level plan in partnership with government departments, to fulfill India’s commitment to global health and nutrition target and Sustainable Development Goals.

Speaking at the event, Honorable Minister Shri Prafulla Samal, Minister of Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Women and Child Development and (Mission Shakti), highlighted “It is our responsibility to ensure all children in our country are healthy. A collective effort is required to address malnutrition. All the stakeholders should work together and make Odisha free from Malnutrition”

World Vision India urged the state government, civil society organizations and individuals working at the state level to collaborate and work towards ending malnutrition and childhood illnesses by 2020. Grana Pu Selvi, Strategic Lead- Child Health and Nutrition, World Vision India said, “The Nutrition Action Plan, is one of the unique efforts of the Odisha State Government to end malnutrition. All the stakeholders, including Non- Governmental Organisations need to work in synergy with the Government, to holistically address the issue of undernutrition in children”.

World Vision India’s nutrition intervention programme – ‘Children Enjoy Healthy Childhood’ in the districts of Bolangir, Nuapada, Sambalpur and Kalahandi Districts has seen positive results within three years of its implementation. During the consultation, World Vision India shared its learnings and best practices.

Other Panelists were- Mr. Sourav Bhattacharya, Nutrition Specialist, UNICEF, Smt. Bishakha Bhanja, Regional Head, Water Aid, Shri. Abhishek Dwivedy, Campaign Coordinator, Living Farms and Shri Santanu Bhumik, Senior Manager – Programmes Azim Premji Philanthropic Initiatives. The discussion was moderated by Shri Sudarsan Das, Managing Trustee, Human Development Foundation- Centre for Development Action and Research (HDF-cDAR)

 

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