NHM, Vitamin Angels collaborate for enhanced child nutrition

DIMAPUR — The National Health Mission (NHM), Nagaland and Vitamin Angels India (VAI) have announced an expansion of their ongoing partnership to further bolster nutrition interventions, specifically vitamin A supplementation and deworming for children under five years old.

This new initiative will see a demonstration pilot project launched across three districts—Dimapur, Niuland, and Chümoukedima—over 2024–25, according to an update received here on Monday.

As per the update, a technical support group has been created, including key officials from NHM, Nagaland and VAI. The formative research phase for the pilot is set to take off on-ground by June or July 2024.

Highlighting that micronutrient deficiency is a major contributor to childhood morbidity and mortality globally, it said that vitamin A is an essential nutrient for the immune system and severe vitamin A deficiency (VAD) can cause irreversible childhood blindness, reduce immunity and increase the chances of mortality from measles and diarrheal disease.

The government of India recommends that children under five years of age receive nine dosages of vitamin A supplements every six months, starting at age nine months.

According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5, 2019–21), about 46% of children aged 9–35 months received VAS in Nagaland, as compared to about 71% at the all-India level. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) believes that while universal coverage (i.e., 100%) is the ultimate goal, even 80% coverage is an indication of a strong programme, the update stated.

Further, it said that VAI has been working in partnership with local NGOs since 2011 and formally entered into an MoU with NHM, Nagaland, in 2021 with an overall vision to improve child health indicators through a health system strengthening approach.

The non-profit has been providing technical assistance to the state government to strengthen delivery of nutrition interventions and the latest announcement comes as an extension to this ongoing partnership.

Speaking about the partnership, Dr. Khelito Zhimomi, joint director, SPO-RMNCAH+N (Reproductive Maternal Neonate Child Adolescent Health and Nutrition), said that Nagaland has made significant strides in improving nutritional indicators among women and children, the update stated.

“We are keen on working intensively to understand and improve areas we are lagging in, and appreciate the support of Vitamin Angels India. This is an opportunity for us to address both demand and supply challenges in supplementation and we have offered our full support to the teams on-ground from NHM and VA. We look forward to positive improvements in the time to come,” it said, quoting Dr. Zhimomi.

Reiterating the importance of the agreement, Shruti Menon, associate director of programmes at VAI, said, “We have been working in Nagaland since our inception in India and are extremely grateful to the NHM leadership in the state for continuing our longstanding partnership. We are determined and invested in improving health and nutrition services till the last mile.”