Nagaland rated among best implementing states of Poshan Abhiyaan
Advisor Noke Wangnao with officials and recipient of the award during the launching the Poshan Maah 2019 held at the Heritage, Kohima on September 6. (DIPR Photo)
Kohima, September 6 (MExN): Advisor, Social Welfare, Home Guards & Civil Defence, Noke Wangnao launching the Poshan Maah 2019 at the Heritage, Kohima on September 6 acknowledged the nodal and convergent departments for implementing and launching ‘Poshan Abhiyaan’ for the second year, noting that Nagaland is rated as one of the better performing States at the National level in regard to implementation of Poshan Abhiyaan.
A DIPR report stated Noke said that celebrating Poshan Maah in the month of September 2019 (National Nutrition Month) is to further accelerate the various activities under Poshan Abhiyaan and to create a Jan Andolan in the process.
Noke mentioned that the focus will be on five critical components of Poshan Abhiyaan, First 1000 days of the child, Anaemia, Diarrhoea, Hand Wash & Sanitation, and Poshtik Ahaar (wholesome meal with diet diversity).
He also expressed that the Anganwadi workers are playing a very crucial role, along with the helpers, the Lady Supervisors, ASHA and ANMs, in contributing and making the Abhiyaan a success and urged that this message should be converted into a mass movement.
He further congratulated the two teams from Nagaland which received the National Awards at the Poshan Award ceremony recently at New Delhi and the other nine teams receiving the State Awards (Citation with a cash award of Rs. 10,000) and conveyed that these awards are a good example of convergence happening in our State.
He encouraged the line departments to continue to work in convergence so as to uplift the health and nutritional status among our children, adolescent girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers to make Nagaland a ‘Mal Nourished Free State’ in tune with the rest of the country by March 2022.
Secretary, Social Welfare, Sarah R Ritse highlighted that Rashtriya Poshan Abhiyaan construed as ‘National Nutrition Mission’ was launched in March 2019 while Poshan Maah was celebrated in the month of September 2018 last year reaching out to more than 25 crore people, followed by Poshan Pakhwada from March 8 to 23, 2019 which touched 48 crore people all across the nation.
Encouraged by the intensive participation of the line Ministries, States/UTs and beneficiaries during Poshan Maah 2018 and Poshan Pakhwada in March 2019, MOWCD has decided to further intensify the efforts and celebrate Poshan Maah during September 2019 to further accelerate various activities under Poshan Abhiyaan, she added.
Sarah mentioned that the State shall extensively use mass media, outdoor media, print media and social media in order to bring visibility to Poshan Maah. The activities conducted during Poshan Maah will be compiled at the Block/District/State level on daily basis and update it on Jan Andolan Dashboard at www.POSHANabhivaan.gov.in
Additional Director, Social Welfare, Tutula Pongen elaborating on the overview of ‘Poshan Abhiyaan in Nagaland’ gave a slide presentation on the objectives, status, activities and achievement of the mission.
Consultant, Maternal & Child Health, Dr. Longri Ao gave a detail slide on the ‘Importance of first 1000 days of a child life’ and informed that the first 1000 Days is roughly the time between ‘Conception and the first two years of life’ (Nine months of pregnancy plus first two years of life) so the foundation for optimum health, growth and neurodevelopment across the lifespan is determined during the first 1000 days and is a massive opportunity to shape a child’s future.
Representatives from School Education, NSRLM-RD, PHE, FSSAI gave a brief highlight about their roles, strategies and achievement relating to the Poshan programme.
Secretary, Social Welfare, Sarah R Ritse administered the POSHAN pledge while Advisor, Noke Wangao flagged off the rally at the Heritage, Kohima on September 6.
