Month-long national nutrition mission culminates in Nagaland

Our Correspondent
Kohima/ Wokha, Oct. 1 (EMN): A month-long Poshan Maah 2020, a national nutrition mission, observed in the month September, to address the problem of malnutrition in women and children, culminated in Nagaland on Wednesday, September 30.

Poshan Maa 2020 is a prime minister’s overarching scheme for holistic nourishment.

In Kohima, the mission’s culmination programme was organised by the Social Welfare department at Highland Park.

Delivering a speech during the programme, CDPO (Tribal) James Ezung said that despite various challenges posed by the current pandemic, the Social Welfare department along with line departments, block and village-levels have done exceedingly well in reaching out to the targeted audience through various medium of activities.

With support from community, a total of 20 nutri-gardens have been initiated in the district, he informed. The team also laid stronger emphasis on the growth monitoring for Mam and Sam children, he added.

Other activities such as mothers and youth leaders’ meeting, home visits, CBEs, VHSNDs, posters and pamphlet campaign, social work and competition of various kinds, he said.

These activities are organised not only to spread awareness but also to draw the attention and inculcate a sense of duty in the fight for healthy living through proper nutrition, he stated.

“To awaken the sense, it cannot be a onetime process but needs a continued effort from our end of celebrating Poshan Maa every day,” he reminded the gathering.

Ezung maintained that Covid-19 has taught all an important lesson that is maintenance of proper hygiene and intake of safe and healthy nutrition. “The best part is out of fear or anxiety it has made us all a very disciplined that we all are following it very religiously,” he added.

He advised the participants to pass on the knowledge which they are following so religiously and make it an internal part of everyday life to bring about the desired changes as required under the national nutrition mission.

The latest survey for nutrition standards shows high indicators in some areas of micro-nutrient deficiency like B12 in the state, he informed.

Stressing on the need to put more effort in growth monitoring on a regular basis by making a strict monthly evaluation of dashboard and supervisory app, he said such effort will be able to make a rough assessment of the nutritional standard of the district.

Asserting that with the change of time, growth of population and lesser land holdings coupled by low soil fertility, he said there may come a time for drastic shift in the nutritional indicators as compared to now bringing impact on the human resource of our future generations.

“With the opportunity, we have a big role in building a strong human resource base and making our children’s future secure,” Ezung said.

Emphasising on having right nutrition which has become important, he mentioned about the movement called “Eat India Movement” which was started by FSSAI in 2018, strongly backed by the ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Short speeches were also delivered by representatives from chief medical officer’s office,, Childline, and NRLM.

The closing ceremony was marked by mask making and pickle competitions.

Wokha: The culmination programme for Rashtriya Poshan Abhiyaan for Wokha district was held on Wednesday by organising cooking competition for anganwadi workers.

The special guest of the event, Deputy Commissioner Orenthung Lotha appreciated the department of Social Welfare for conducting the programme in a befitting manner despite all hardship.

To eradicate malnutrition and anemia, he said that the government of India had taken up the programme in reaching out to state, district, block and village-level to disseminate the importance of nutrition.

He congratulated all the teams and line departments involved for the successful conclusion of the programme and further called upon the participants not to end within them but to carry forward and disseminate the message.

The DC said that lack of nutrition affects the growth of physical health and mental health, while keeping health fit helps family from various health issues and saves the economy.

State Project Management Unit (SPMU) Dr. Yongya Chiangmak appreciated for the successful conduct of activities in the district. He said the district is blessed with various nutritional food as the district itself is considered as the land of plenty.

He challenged the stakeholders to be the champions in the state and set an example towards the entire district and bring change in health wellness.

Dimapur: A culmination programme of Rashtriya Poshan Abhiyaan was organised by Nehru Yava Kendra, Dimapur in collaboration with DPRO and NSS at the youth hostel in Dimapur.

During the programme, founder and director of the Wings Training Solution Dip lauded the organiser for their effort towards educating the society on the importance of nutrition. He also highlighted various schemes initiated by the government and called for creating awareness.

Debasis highlighted the objectives of the programme and also stressed on the importance of nutrition for all round development of a person.

Peren: The department of Social Welfare, Peren district organised a programme under the theme: “Identification of Sam, Mam children, development of kitchen garden in AWC” to mark the culmination of Rashtriya Poshan Maah at deputy commissioner’s (DC) conference hall in Peren.

During the programme, DC Sentiwapang Aier lauded all the line departments involved actively in educating and sensitising the public as well as for the successful completion of month-long Poshan Maah activities in the district.

He also handed over certificates of appreciation to different individuals from different anganwadi centres of the district for their active participation.

Tuensang: The National Nutrition Mission Poshan Maah 2020 closing ceremony was held at CKS hall in Tuensang, with DC Kumar Ramnikant as the special guest.

The DC in his speech congratulated the Social Welfare department and all the convergence departments for their effort in making the performance rank at top amongst the districts of the state.

National Nutrition Mission is the most important national project and putting the same effort can achieve a lot in child and women health of the district, he said. Poshan Maah’s exercise has been a commendable one and if the same team effort can be put for the entire year then we can eradicate the major health nutrition factors of our society, he added.

The Social Welfare department being a nodal department for the programme must strive continuously to maintain the top rank of the performance with continuous efforts so that the society will be benefitted, he encouraged.

SBP PH Ramaikalo highlighted the exercise of the Poshan Maah and mentioned all the efforts of the team work of the convergence departments.

The DC gave away the prizes for online competitions --- photography, painting and slogan ---conducted as part of the Poshan Maah.

Bhandari: As part of Poshan Maah celebration 2020, ICDS Bhandari held a block-level culmination-cum-cooking competition with the theme: “Better nutrition, better health” on September 29 at the town hall.

The special guest for the programme, SDO Sulanthung highlighted the importance of organic food and nutritious balanced diet for healthy pregnant and nursing mothers, adolescent girls and children below six years stating that a healthy family makes a healthy society and a healthy nation.

In the cooking competition, Bhandari Town Eloe Hoho was declared the winner while anganwadi workers team and Banana self help group were the runners-up respectively.

Mokokchung: Under the initiatives of the department of Social Welfare the closing programme of Poshan Maah 2020 was held at Penli panchayat hall.

As part of the programme, a painting competition on the theme: “Identification of Sam, Mam and development of kitchen garden in AWC” was held, with participation of students from different schools.