Topics Covered: Issues related to health.
Poshan Abhiyaan:
Context:
NITI Aayog has released a review report on Poshan Abhiyaan.
Suggestions made:
- The programme must be stepped up to meet the targets set by the Centre to reduce stunting, wasting and anaemia by 2022.
- Graduate to a POSHAN-plus strategy which apart from continued strengthening the four pillars of the Abhiyaan also requires renewed focus on other social determinants in addition to addressing the governance challenges of NHM/ICDS delivery mechanisms.
- Lay as much emphasis on complementary feeding as it does on breastfeeding. This can help avert 60% of the total stunting cases in India.
About Poshan Abhiyaan:
- The programme seeks to improve nutritional outcomes for children, pregnant women and lactating mothers.
- Launched in 2018 with specific targets to be achieved by 2022.
It aims to reduce:
- Stunting and wasting by 2% a year (total 6% until 2022) among children.
- Anaemia by 3% a year (total 9%) among children, adolescent girls and pregnant women and lactating mothers.
The target of the mission is to bring down stunting among children in the age group 0-6 years from 38.4% to 25% by 2022.
Background:
More than a third of the children under five face stunting and wasting and 40% aged between one and four are anaemic. Over 50% of pregnant and other women were found to be anaemic, said the National Family Health Survey 4 released in 2016.
InstaLinks:
Prelims Link:
- Goals and targets under Poshan Abhiyaan.
Mains Link:
Discuss the objectives and significance of the scheme.
Sources: the Hindu.
