Friday, August 16, 2019
Prime Minister National Nutrition Mission
The Prime Minister's Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nourishment (POSHAN Abhiyaan), also known as the National Nutrition Mission, is an ambitious initiative launched by the Government of India in 2018. The mission aims to address the issue of malnutrition in India comprehensively. Malnutrition, in various forms, affects a significant portion of India's population, especially women and children. POSHAN Abhiyaan adopts a multi-sectoral approach to improve nutritional outcomes across the country.
Key Objectives and Components of Prime Minister National Nutrition Mission:
1. ICDS-CAS: The mission integrates and converges the services of various sectors, such as health, nutrition, sanitation, and education, through the use of technology. The Integrated Child Development Services - Common Application Software (ICDS-CAS) is an important component of this initiative.
2. Real-Time Monitoring: POSHAN Abhiyaan emphasizes real-time monitoring of the nutritional status of children and pregnant/lactating women. This data-driven approach enables timely interventions and adjustments in strategies.
3. Jan Andolan (People's Movement): The mission aims to create a Jan Andolan, or people's movement, to promote nutrition awareness and practices at the community level. It encourages the active participation of communities in improving their nutritional status.
4. Target Beneficiaries: The focus of the program is primarily on pregnant and lactating women, infants, and children under the age of 6 years. Adequate nutrition during the first 1,000 days (from conception to the child's second birthday) is a crucial aspect of the mission.
5. Poshan Maah: POSHAN Abhiyaan organizes "Poshan Maah" or Nutrition Month, typically observed in September, to intensify efforts and create awareness about the importance of nutrition.
6. Convergence: The mission promotes convergence among various departments and ministries to achieve a common goal of improving nutritional outcomes. It emphasizes collaboration between health, education, agriculture, and women and child development departments.
7. Capacity Building: The initiative focuses on building the capacities of frontline workers, such as Anganwadi workers and ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) workers, to enable them to deliver better nutrition-related services.
8. Supplementary Nutrition: POSHAN Abhiyaan includes the provision of supplementary nutrition, promoting breastfeeding, and fortifying food with essential nutrients to address micro-nutrient deficiencies.
9. Anemia Mukt Bharat: The mission also aligns with the Anemia Mukt Bharat initiative, aiming to reduce anemia prevalence among young children, adolescents, and women in the reproductive age group.
By addressing the various dimensions of malnutrition and promoting a life-cycle approach to nutrition, POSHAN Abhiyaan aims to significantly improve the nutritional status of India's population, especially women and children, and contribute to the nation's overall development.