The AIIMS Bhopal has taken a significant step towards combating Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM). A Center of Excellence has been established under the Department of Pediatrics, in collaboration with the National Health Mission-Madhya Pradesh (NHM-MP) and UNICEF. This center will provide advanced medical assistance for SAM cases, particularly for non-responsive and critically ill children. Severe cases are being treated at the AIIMS Bhopal Severe Malnutrition Advanced Referral and Treatment (SMART) Unit. The Center of Excellence is dedicated to providing high-level technical support, promoting research, and conducting training programs on SAM management.
In this regard, the state government organized a two-day divisional-level residential F-SAM training program for Feeding Demonstrators and ANMs/Staff Nurses working in Nutrition Rehabilitation Centers (NRCs). The objective of this training was to enhance the treatment and management of severely malnourished children. On March 4, 2025, the training participants visited the Center of Excellence at AIIMS Bhopal, where they received practical training in malnutrition management. They attended sessions on diet preparation, anthropometric assessment, and identifying danger signs in admitted children. Additionally, they observed the early intervention and counseling rooms and gained knowledge about the available resources for SAM management.
The training program saw participation from Feeding Demonstrators, Staff Nurses/ANMs, as well as esteemed experts, including Dr. Neera Chaudhary (Joint Director, Health Services, Bhopal Division), Dr. Shobha Khot (Retired Pediatrician), Dr. Suresh Kumar, and Mrs. Rajkumar Chauhan. Dr. Bhavana Dhingra (Nodal Officer of the Center of Excellence and Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at AIIMS Bhopal) emphasized the importance of early identification of malnutrition, adherence to structured treatment protocols, and regular follow-ups.