DIMAPUR — As part of the Rashtriya Poshan Maah (National Nutrition Month) celebration, which is being held across the country from Sept. 1 to the 30th, an awareness camp for women and adolescent girls on women's health was held at Lazami village council hall, Pughoboto sub-division under Zunheboto district, on Friday.
The awareness camp, under Ghathashi ICDS project, was organised by the Department of Social Welfare in convergence with Department of Health and Family Welfare, a DIPR report stated.
Concurrently, anaemia campaign along with free health screening was conducted by the medical team from Health and Wellness Centre (HWC) sub-centre, Lazami.
In his keynote address, R Chirhotshu Nyusou, CDPO explained on Poshan Abhiyan, a flagship programme to improve nutritional outcomes for children, adolescent girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers.
Nyusou spoke on ‘Nutrigarden,’ which is being set up at selected Angawadi centres to promote organic and locally available food source from kitchen gardens.
He also highlighted on the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) at Angawadi centres, which is an initiative to promote early childhood education and development through indigenous games, toys, local folk songs and folk tales.
Resource person Dr. Kerekugumle, SMO Pughuboto, spoke on anemia and its health implications. Anaemia, which results from iron deficiency, affects both children and adults alike and the symptoms may include fatigue, loss of appetite, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, dizziness or fast heartbeat. Anaemia causes delayed locomotors skills and speech delay in children and maternal deaths in women, he said.
As iron helps in brain development, improves learning ability in children, sleep and healthy regular menstrual cycle in women, the SMO encouraged regular intake of iron tablets by pregnant and lactating mothers.
Dr. Kerekugumle also emphasised on the first 1000 days of life for women between pregnancy and her child's second birthday, which are the most critical time for positive impact on a child's cognitive and physical development,
The programme was attended by children, women and ASHA workers along with village leaders. The attendees were also sensitised on th Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), a centrally sponsored scheme for pregnant and lactating mothers.
Meanwhile, Rashtriya Poshan Maah was also observed at Duncan Bosti council hall and Duncan Bosti UPHC, Dimapur, on Friday.
Asen Walling, district coordinator of Poshan Abhiyaan, said that Poshan Maah under Poshan Abhiyaan is observed to ensure community mobilisation and bolster people's participation for addressing malnutrition amongst young children and women, and to ensure health and nutrition for everyone.
Renchano Odyuo, CDPO Dimapur (U), said that the community can be made more aware of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) programme through campaigns that raise awareness about issues affecting women and children.
These campaigns can help to encourage people to care for both girls and boys. Some of the issues that can be addressed through these campaigns include discrimination against girls, female foeticide and infanticide, she said.
She also disclosed that the ICDS programme provides services such as nutrition and health education, health check-ups, referral services, immunisation and vaccination, supplementary nutritional feeding, yrimary childcare and education, through Anganwadi centres,
Dr. Rose, medical officer in charge of Duncan UPHC said anaemia is a significant focus area, particularly affecting young children, adolescent girls, pregnant and postpartum women, and women of reproductive age. The initiative aims to address nutritional deficiencies, promote healthy habits, and reduce anaemia's intergenerational effects.
The programme was organised by district programme officer, Dimapur CDPO (U) in convergence with the Health and Family Welfare and Duncan Council, GMS Duncan Lotha Khel and IPR department.