To ensure adequate nutritional diet to the pregnant women, lactating mothers, adolescent girls and children, the ambitious ‘Poshan Maah’ initiative, as a part of the Poshan Abhiyan, kickstarted on Sunday and would be observed throughout Punjab during the month of September.
“It is a matter of great satisfaction that all the respective District Administrations have started the observance of Poshan Maah with a missionary zeal while holding various events,” said the state’s Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Aruna Chaudhary on Sunday.
Events like ‘Suposhan Godhbaharai' of pregnant ladies with fruits and vegetables, Annaprashan (an infant’s first intake of food other than milk), organizing lectures on significance of health and nutrition education, Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) camp, Poshan Rally, Distribution of IFA tablets, signature campaign and pledge at the block level were organised across the state.
“The special feature of today's events was a PPT presentation by DPO regarding awareness and sensitization of Poshan Abhiyaan including Poshan Maah in Amritsar besides an exhibition regarding nutrition and health education (nutritious recipes etc) which was appreciated by the local MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla and Amritsar north MLA Sunil Datti and other district heads of line departments at the exhibition,” she said.
Emphasizing transforming this unique initiative into a mass movement, Chaudhary said that a vigorous campaign would have to be undertaken at the grassroots level, that is state, district, block and villages, to raise awareness regarding the importance of health and nutritional diet.
Throwing light on the action plan of the State Government, Chaudhary said that the coordination between various departments would be ensured to make ‘Poshan Maah’ a resounding success.
She said that special health check-up camps for pregnant women would be held at the anganwadi centres to promote the effective delivery of health and nutrition services.
Stressing the importance of electronic, print, and also social media, along with community radio, and ‘Nukkar Nataks’, the Minister added that these mediums would come in handy in carrying forward the mission of the State Government to make the slogan of ‘nutritional diet’ echo in every nook and corner of the state.
Chaudhary added that debates and panel discussions on the subject of health and nutrition would be held in the educational institutions of Punjab besides in all villages with the active involvement of Self-Help Groups, Agriculture Cooperatives, Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA), Auxiliary Nurses & Midwives (ANM) and Anganwadi Workers (AWW).