THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI SUDIP BANDYOPADHYAY)
(a) & (b). Annual Health Survey 2012 report did not capture information
regarding nutritional status of children in main survey. Therefore,
the information is not available.
(c) & (d). As Annual health Survey has not covered malnutrition component,
comparison of underweight children from National Family Health Survey –III
in 2005-06 cannot be done.
(e) Malnutrition is multidimensional and intergenerational and requires
interventions through various Ministries to address its many underlying
causes in different stages of the life cycle.
Under NRHM, the remedial steps taken are as follows:
# Promotion of appropriate infant and young child feeding practices
that include early initiation of breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding
till 6 months of age.
# Management of malnutrition and common neonatal and childhood
illnesses at community and facility level by training service providers
in IMNCI (Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illnesses)
training.
# Treatment of children with severe acute malnutrition at special
units called the Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres (NRCs), set up at
public health facilities. Presently 564 such centres are functional
all over the country.
# Specific program to prevent and combat micronutrient deficiencies
of Vitamin A and Iron & Folic Acid. Vitamin A supplementation for children
till the age of 5 years and Iron & Folic Acid supplementation for children 6
to 60 months.
# Village Health and Nutrition Days and Mother and Child Protection
Card are the joint initiative of the Ministries of Health & Family welfare
and the Ministry of Woman and Child for addressing the nutrition concerns
in children, pregnant women and lactating mothers.
# Nutrition Education on VHNDs (Village Health and Nutrition Days)
to increase the awareness and bring about desired changes in the dietary
practices including the promotion of breastfeeding.
# Growth monitoring of children up to three years by promoting use
of Mother and Child Protection card.
