Sharing National Family Health Survey data of year 2015-16 released recently, Deepika Sharma, nutrition specialist, UNICEF, Madhya Pradesh, has said that 42 per cent children under age of five years are stunted in Madhya Pradesh.
This was shared in the media meet held at Tawa in Hoshangabad on January 19 and 20, 2016. The workshop had a theme of newborn care.
Stunting is an issue which needs focus, Deepika Sharma added in her presentation. Stressing on the importance of first thousands days in life of child, she added that first 1000 days are forever and stunting hampers the future ability of an individual child to learn and earn and impacts on society.
Dr Vandana Bhatia UNICEF, Madhya Pradesh Health Specialist also shared a presentation on new born care and that MP is third largest contributor of new born deaths in India. She added that neo natal deaths contribute 52 per cent of deaths of children under age of five year, hence the need to focus on new born. About 30 media participants from Hoshangabad and Bhopal participated in the meet.
The discussion was held on the possible areas where media can contribute to help make new born care a priority to focus upon. Anil Gulati Communication Specialist, UNICEF, Madhya Pradesh spoke on the role of media to help build an enabling environment on the issues like stunting and new born care, so that it is in focus for people who make decisions for children.