Chhattisgarh: Sukma's health drive tackles severe child malnutrition

Chhattisgarh's Sukma district administration is tackling severe child malnutrition through the Mukhyamantri Swasth Bastar Abhiyan. The campaign identifies and treats children via health check-ups and specialized care at Nutritional Rehabilitation Centres.

The Mukhyamantri Swasth Bastar Abhiyan is bringing relief to critically malnourished children in the remote and inaccessible village of Gumdi in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district, with the administration intensifying efforts to identify, treat and rehabilitate children suffering from severe malnutrition.

Identifying and Treating Malnourished Children

Speaking to ANI, Sukma District Collector Amit Kumar said the campaign, being implemented in collaboration with the Women and Child Development Department, aims to identify malnourished children and address the health issues contributing to their condition. "A key objective of the ongoing campaign, implemented in collaboration with the Women and Child Development Department, is to track malnourished children and identify specific health indicators that can be addressed to improve their nutritional status. The teams currently in the field are tasked with conducting health check-ups for children at Anganwadis," Kumar said.

He said children identified with severe malnutrition are being referred to the district's three Nutritional Rehabilitation Centres (NRCs) for specialised care. "We are also continuously referring these children to the district's three Nutritional Rehabilitation Centres (NRCs)," he said.

Next Phase: Integrating Education and Nutrition

Outlining the administration's next phase of the initiative, Kumar said Anganwadis would be linked with primary schools to improve both nutrition and education among children. "Taking this a step further, our next plan involves linking Anganwadis with primary schools. We intend to have primary school teachers spend one hour a week to work on improving both the children's nutrition and their educational levels," he added.

Role of Nutritional Rehabilitation Centres

Chief Medical and Health Officer RK Singh said the district has strengthened its efforts to combat malnutrition through Nutritional Rehabilitation Centres, where severely malnourished children receive specialised care. "We are addressing this through our Nutritional Rehabilitation Centres (NRCs). We admit severely malnourished children for a 15-day stay, focusing on hygiene and a specific diet chart to help them gain weight, while also educating mothers so they can continue this care at home," Singh told ANI.

He said these efforts have contributed to a reduction in malnutrition as well as maternal mortality in the district.

Strengthening Maternal Healthcare

Highlighting improvements in maternal healthcare, Singh said an ultrasound machine has been installed in Konta, where specialised screening camps are organised twice every month. "In Konta, we have installed an ultrasound machine. On the 9th and 24th of each month, designated days for specialised screening, we invite people from the surrounding villages," he said.

Singh further said Sukma recorded only eight maternal deaths last year and that the administration is continuing efforts to reduce both maternal and infant mortality across the region.

"We are continuously striving to reduce both maternal and infant mortality in our region," he added. (ANI)

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianet Newsable English staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)