Awareness Program on “Malnutrition: it’s Consequences in 0 – 5 Years Children” on 23-02-2021 at KVK. Wyra

A developing country like India is strongly dedicated to reducing the burden of child malnutrition and remains a persistent concern. The findings from recent surveys indicate the co-existence of child undernutrition, micronutrient deficiency and overweight/obesity which are triple burden of malnutrition among children below 5 years of age. There are considerable efforts being under taken to address this challenging situation. The coexistence all three forms of malnutrition are often linked to changes in the structure of food systems, economic transitions and income inequalities. The explicit cognizance of alarming scenario has brought to centre stage, nutrition as development agenda in recent times. Malnutrition increases the susceptibility to infection and infection also contributes to malnutrition which is a vicious cycle. An inadequate dietary intake leads to weight loss, lowered immunity, mucosal damage, invasion by pathogens, impaired growth and development in young children. Again, infection itself contributes to malnutrition as it stimulates immune response increasing the demand for metabolically derived anabolic energy and associated substrates leading to a synergistic vicious cycle of adverse nutritional status and increased susceptibility to infection. There are four types of malnutrition as per WHO and it includes deficiencies, stunting, being underweight and wasting. Each type of malnutrition arises due to unique causes like poor quality or insufficient quantity of nutrient intake, absorption or their utilization in the body. The anganwadi centres are undertaking growth monitoring once again under National Family Health Survey – 5 at state level between 22nd to 28th February, 2020. As part of this drive, KVK scientists, Dr. Jessie Suneetha W and Dr. V. Chaitanya along with District Welfare Officer of WCDSC, Khammam division with local supervisor and anganwadi teachers participated in assessing the anthropometric measurement of children below 5 years. The gathering consisted of 20 pregnant and lactating mothers. Dr. Jessie Suneetha W explained to them about the importance of personal hygiene, dietary requirements during pregnancy and lactation plus nutrient requirements of children below 5 years of age. The mothers were sensitized on the importance of including green leafy vegetables in diets. Dr. V. Chaitanya enlightened them on the need to develop kitchen garden at home using paint buckets, disposable bottles and other discarded plastic containers. The use of household organic waste to produce compost which can used in kitchen garden was explained.