Bhubaneswar: In pursuit of 5T mantra propounded by the State Government with a purpose of transform the nutrition scenario in the State with respect to children below 6, adolescent girls and pregnant & nursing women, Minister, WCD & MS chaired a multi-stakeholders consultation with eminent experts, nutrition scientists, practitioners and academia from across the country, development partners APPI / UNICEF / UNFPA / BvLF / WFP and State & district level functionaries to devise a transformational nutrition strategy for the State.
Smt. Tukuni Sahu, minister, WCD & MS in her inaugural address stated that, in order to being about a transformational change in the state, the Govt. of Odisha has adopted 5T approach (Teamwork, Technology, Transparency, Transformation and Time). As part of this transformational change, improved nutrition of adolescent girls, mothers and children is a key outcome state is aspiring for. In her address Smt. Anu Garg, Principal Secretary, WCD & MS expressed that, while the issue of malnutrition is multi-dimensional, every sector holds a part of the solution to this problem. We know what works to prevent and address malnutrition, we know what the root causes of this public health problem are.
A set of proven interventions can prevent the occurrence of under nutrition and stunting and offer children the best chance to grow and develop to their full potential. We now need to come together to play our part, in taking these solutions to scale and overcome our nutritional challenges.NFHS -4 data reveal that for the first time the State has bettered it’s health and nutrition indicators vis-à-vis national figures, with IMR (U1) of 40 (against national average of 41) ; Child Mortality Rate (U5) at 49 (against national average of 50) ; Severely Under weight (U5) at 34.4 ( against national average of 35.7) ; stunting at 34.1 (against national average of 38.4) etc.
Besides, Odisha has been ranked first in receipt of ICDS services by children ( 0 -6 years) ( 78.2%), receipt of food supplement by children (6 months – 6 years) (74.9%), pregnant women availing health check-ups at AWCs (82.7%) and nursing women receiving health check-ups from AWCs ( 78.8%). Besides the above, our aspirational districts such as Rayagada, Nuapada, Bolangir, Gajapati etc. consistently figure amongst the Delta ranking by NITI Aayog.The Department is relentlessly striving towards improving nutrition status of children below 6, adolescent girls and pregnant & nursing women. Important initiatives of the Department in the nutrition front are : revised menu under SNP implemented with calorie and protein higher than GoI recommendations.
5 eggs per week introduced ; Mo-Chhatua website / MIS / App have been launched for tracking supply chain management of THR and assuring quality ; Central Food Training and Research Institute (CFTRI) has been roped in for quality testing of THR ; State wide complementary feeding campaign launched ; Provision for pre-school uniforms, shoes and socks, LPG and water filters made for all AWCs. ; 150 creches made operational in Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur & Kalahandi and 60 more crèches are operated under DMF in Keonjhar district ; Jiban Sampark programme has been implemented for seeking higher nutrition and health outcomes for PVTGs ; green fencing of kitchen gardens at AWCs.
Through Odisha Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Action Plan (ONAP) the State has been devising and implementing convergent action plans with line Departments such as FS & CW, H & FW, RD, S&ME, PR & DW, ST & SC and Dev., F& ARD, Sports & Youth Services etc. in areas such as operation of crèches in difficult / PVTG areas for children under 3,generation of awareness on health and nutrition amongst adolescent girls in tribal residential schools, promotion of dietary diversity, strengthening of THR management, optimization of Anganwadi Centres and delivery of nutrition in remote hamlets.Though strategizing for nutrition outcomes is an evolving process, the Department has identified the following six key areas for brain storming and using the inputs for devising a transformational nutrition strategy : adolescent and maternal nutrition ; addressing needs of malnourished children in remote geographics ;Nutrition in children under three ; anemia in adolescents, women and children below six ; fortification under SNP ; community participation, convergence and accountability for nutrition.
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