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A workshop got underway here today for
chalking out an action plan for eradication of malnutrition in the state.
The experts attending the workshop stressed the need for launching a joint
campaign for this purpose in which society, government and voluntary
organisations should play important roles. The workshop was inaugurated by
Minister of State for Women and Child Development Department (Independent
charge) Smt. Ranjana Baghel. She said that for eradicating malnutrition, it
is necessary to increase resources as well as mass awareness. During the
inaugural session, Dr. Steve Collins of Valid International UK made a
presentation about the strategy to fight against malnutrition. The workshop
is being organised in the backdrop of the Atal Child Health Mission, which
is being constituted on the wish of Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh
Chouhan to rid the state of malnutrition. The workshop is being organised
jointly by Women and Child Development, Public Health & Family Welfare
departments and UNICEF.
Inaugurating the workshop, Smt. Baghel
said that malnutrition can be eradicated by creating mass awareness. She
hoped that experts attending the workshop will give guidance for making
Madhya Pradesh a malnutrition-free state. The minister enumerated various
schemes launched by the state government for tiding over this complex
problem including Mangal Diwas, Grih Bhent, Janani Express, Janani Suraksha
Yojana. She said that working of anganwadis has also been strengthened.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Secretary
Shri Avani Vaish said that it is a discrepancy that godowns are full of food
grains but children are dying due to serious malnutrition and called for
serious discussions to remove this discrepancy. He said that we will have to
resolve that not a single child dies of malnutrition in the state.
Principal Secretary Women and Child
Development Smt. Lavleen Kakkad said that the incidence of malnutrition
among children is more in Madhya Pradesh than other states and demanded that
the Union government provide more financial assistance, resources and
facilities to the state.
Secretary Health & Family Welfare and Gas
Relief Shri SR Mohanty said that India is among the five countries which are
most affected by malnutrition. He said that concerted efforts are being
undertaken in the state for fighting against malnutrition. He said that
voluntary organisations are also lending a helping hand in this connection.
Shri Mohanty informed that regular vaccination campaign is underway in the
four districts where cases of serious malnutrition have come to the fore and
special care is being accorded to newborns. For this purpose, special
training is being imparted to ASHA workers and ANMs.
At the outset, Director
Women and Child Development Shri Anupam Rajan threw light on the workshop's
objectives which is being attended by by experts from India and abroad. He
said that the views to be expressed by these experts will help chalk out a
community-based management system to combat malnutrition. Deputy Team Leader
Shri Sachdeva proposed a vote of thanks. |
