Poshan Maah celebrated with focus on healthy eating

Our Correspondents
Kohima/ Wokha, Sep. 15 (EMN): Continuing the month-long ‘Poshan Maah’ celebration, the department of Social Welfare under Kohima urban project organised a programme at D’ Block panchayat hall in Kohima.

Speaking on the occasion, the special guest and reader of State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), Roseline Richa Dzuvichu, pointed out that Naga society are ‘least bothered’ about nutrition and fail to look at food differently as healing.

The speaker illustrated the different kinds of food and its components to maintain a healthy body and balanced diet to be free from diseases.

While maintaining that the Anganwadi workers and accredited social health activists (Ashas) are the frontline workers in reaching out to the communities, the speaker also urged the participants to sensitise on healthy food habits and proper child care.

Stressing on the importance of eating healthy, Dzuvichu urged the people to create a responsible choice of eating healthy stating that many times people choose taste over what is healthy.

Earlier, delivering the keynote address, senior supervisor of the department Alice Yepthomi said ‘Poshan Maah’ started in 2018. She added that September month is celebrated as ‘Poshan Maah’ or Nutrition month.

The official stated that the month-long celebration is marked with awareness and sensitisation programmes on antenatal care, breast feeding, anaemia, growth monitoring, girl’s education, right age of marriage, hygiene and sanitation and eating healthy foods.

She further informed that the objectives of the programme was to prevent and reduce stunting, underweight, low birth rate, anaemia among young children and adolescents.

In a related programme, the Social Welfare department, in collaboration with the Lotha Eloe Hoho, had conducted a programme on ‘Poshan Maah’ at Wokha Eloe Hoho building on September 15.

Speaking on Covid-19 and breastfeeding, the deputy chief medical officer, Wokha, Dr. Zuben Kikon stressed on living a healthy lifestyle. As the pandemic has created panic and fear among the people, Kikon urged the mothers to eradicate the fear and panic but learn how to prevent and take precautionary measures.

Kikon pointed out that stigma and discrimination are ‘worse than any disease’ as there is no medicine to cure them. He called upon the mothers to remain healthy. According to him, healthy persons are those who are ‘physically, mentally, socially and spiritually fit.’

Kikon also informed that a Covid-19 infected mother could breast feed their babies, if they are too weak, by following certain procedures. He advised the mothers to take nutritious food and only breast feed their babies till they are six months or upto two years.

Speaking on the development of kitchen gardens, Apibeni Y Kikon, NSRLM area coordinator, encouraged the young mothers to start kitchen gardens. Highlighting on the benefits of kitchen gardens, she stated that it is low-cost, sustainable, as well as organic. Besides, it would keep them physically fit, save their economy and keep the family healthy.

She also stated that consuming nutritious foods from the organic garden would act as a stress relief and boost immunity. She advised them to grow different types of vegetables stating that a 20 meter square area of garden could help an adult to sustain and remain healthy.

A short video on the importance of breastfeeding and video clips on how to fight against Covid-19 were screened during the programme.

President of Lotha Eloe Hoho thanked the department and young mothers for their participation at the programme.