Though the Annual Health Survey shows that Odsiha has achieved a 10-per cent reduction in child under-nutrition, the State still remains in the danger zone, opined speakers at a two-day conference held at the XIMB campus here last week.
To explore a set of root causes of under-nutrition in the State and draw guidelines for civil society to engage them in the pursuit, DHAN Foundation in association with its special institution Sustainable Healthcare Advancement (SUHAM) organised a conference on ‘Addressing Persistent Child Under-Nutrition in Odisha: Feasibility and Prospects’.
Around 70 participants, including, community members of Koraput and Mayurbunj districts, NGOs, experts, donor agencies, academic and research institutions, attended the event.
The conference was inaugurated with a welcome speech by DHAN Foundation ED MP Vasimalai followed by a felicitation programme made by XIMB Director Paul Fernandes.
Former State Health Secretary IAS Meena Gupta spoke about the status of child under-nutrition at global, national and the State level and stressed on community monitoring. Similarly, State W&CD Department Principal Secretary IAS Arti Ahuja shared State’s figures showing significant improvements in the case in recent years.
The discussion called for the need of community monitoring involving PRIs, SHGs and civil society organisations and stressed on developing a strategy to target behavioural change of mothers towards understanding and reducing child under-nutrition.
Since the case is more prevalent in tribal areas, a special strategy needs to be adopted to reach the community. Besides, the speakers also viewed that convergence between line departments need to be strengthened to address the issue effectively.