The Women and Child Development (WCD) department has prepared an action plan to improve children’s nutritional status in partnership with other departments.
A number of interventions are planned as part of the year-long convergence action plan. As a large number of children are delivered in private hospitals, besides government hospitals, the WCD in association with the Kerala University of Health Sciences, Indian Medical Association, and the Indian Academy of Paediatrics plans to train at least one nurse in the Gynaecology department of each hospital as lactation counsellor to encourage women to breastfeed their newborns. The nurses will also be trained in neonatal care, as new mothers may experience postnatal depression or need guidance on how to take care of babies.
The decision to train nurses has been taken because doctors with long queues of patients have little time on their hands. Nurses, though, will be able to meet and communicate with not only the women, but family members accompanying them.
Under revision
The syllabus for the training is under revision and certification is also planned. The programme will be piloted in Thiruvananthapuram district first.
A growth assessment of students in prematric and post-matric hostels and model residential schools under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Development departments is planned in association with nutritionists. Students’ height and weight will be measured and steps taken to improve nutritional intake of those found to be severely underweight.
The WCD plans for anganwadi workers in the locations of these hostels and schools to conduct monthly assessments. Focus will be also on creating awareness of anaemia and improving haemoglobin levels.
Anganwadi workers will also visit schools in the area they are located in to assess growth of each student. The WCD’s school counsellors will support them in the activity.
Aquaponics project
The department is also planning an aquaponics project in anganwadis that have space so that children can be provided with unadulterated and fresh vegetables, besides fish. The support of promoters of the Fisheries department will be sought for the project, proposed to be piloted in Thiruvananthapuram.
Published – March 19, 2025 08:54 pm IST
