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National Documentation Centre (NDC)

Malnutrition

1.26 mn MP children suffer from severe acute malnutrition (New Kerala:11 June 2010)

Bhopal, June 10 : Madhya Pradesh has about 1.26 million children who fall under category of severe
acute malnutrition refereed as SAM and are at risk. As per National Family Health Survey data (NFHS
III) State has highest number of malnourished children in India and has highest infant mortality rates.

A state level technical consultation on Community based management of severe acute malnutrition was
organised by Department of Women and Child Development in partnership with Department of Health
and Family Welfare, Madhya Pradesh Technical Support Unit (MPTAST) and UNICEF here on
Wednesday.

Chief Secretary of the State of Madhya Pradesh Avni Vaish, while addressing the workshop, said that 'it is
painful' that state has high levels of malnutrition among children.

"Political will is strong in the state to address the problem, resources would not be an issue, need is to put
strategy in place that works. He added that in strategy Bhopal will provide technical resources, funds
while implementation will be done at district levels under leadership of district collectors, who will give
complete freedom. But they would need to deliver against quantified targets," he said.

Speaking at the occasion Minister of Women and Child Development, Ranjana Bhagel said that challenge
in the state is to reach out to mothers and children at village level. 19 tribal districts have a major problem,
reaching out in these pockets is a big challenge. She shared that State is setting up Atal children nutrition
Mission for combating the problem of malnutrition among children.

Principal Secretary, Women and Child Department, Government of Madhya Pradesh, Loveleen Kacker
stressed on the need about State specific policies, while S R Mohanty Secretary Health and family
Welfare, Government of Madhya Pradesh said there is a need to improve delivery systems in the state.

Madhya Pradesh is one of the few states which contributes 2/3 rd of malnutrition in India. To combat that
burden of severely malnourished children with complication health department has set up 210 nutritional
rehabilitation centres in the State and we would be expanding the same at block level.

Dr Steve Collins of Valid International, a humanitarian organization, spoke on his experience on

community based management in Africa. He said that need is to look at chronic and acute malnutrition
differently.

He stressed on the need to engage with communities, push up outpatient therapeutic process and need for
nutritional rehabilitation centre to take care of children who are malnourished.

Dr Mohammed Ayoya Nutrition, Specialist from UNICEF Delhi, shared experiences from Africa about
management of community based intervention for treatment of children with severe acute malnutrition
and use of ready to use therapeutic food in Africa and from Madhya Pradesh and Bihar.
Dr Manohar Agnani, Director National Rural Health Mission, shared experience of Nutritional
Rehabilitation Centre in the state, its challenges and on integrated management of severe acute
malnutrition.