Government should ensure safety of students with India's overall COVID-19 protocol

DHUBRI: An interview with the head of UNICEF field office (Assam), Dr Madhulika Jonatjhon with The Sentinel.

Q: Schools were finally opening today after six months. Your suggestion for the authorities?

A: The Education department must ensure safety and consistency with India's overall COVID-19 health response, with all reasonable measures taken to protect students, staff, teachers and their families.

Q: What is the impact of COVID on nutrition in Assam?

A: A COVID-induced nutrition crisis is what has been witnessed during the lockdown and declining GDP will result in food insecurity. More than 1.2 million under-5 children in Assam are stunted, about 0.8 million are wasted and 0.3 million are severely wasted in Assam.

Q: In India, 22 per cent people are under below poverty , so what are the ways out to prevent poor nutrition?

A: Pregnancy is a period wherein right nutrition is important not only for the pregnant woman but also for optimal growth and development of her baby. It is recommended that a pregnant woman should consume at least three main meals and one-two nutritious snacks daily.

Q: What will be the impact of COVID on Poshan Abhiyan and India reaching the malnutrition free target by 2022?

A: The Poshan Abhiyan is an opportunity to enhance the nutrition status of children, pregnant women and new mothers through practices and services – increasing both supply and demand. It's a revolutionary mission which has the Prime Minister as its backbone and the support of different departments including media.

Q. What is the importance of the first 1,000 days covering pregnant women and new mother?

A: Despite the progress in child nutrition indicators, the country is still home to an estimated 20 million children under-5 who are suffering from wasting, over 40 million children are chronically malnourished, and more than half of the women between ages 14-49 are anaemic. Malnutrition in children occurs during pregnancy, which is why a large percentage of children are born with a low birth weight. As per NFHS-4 (2015-16), 25.7 per cent 46 per cent women (15-49 years) are anaemic, while 38.8 per cent adolescent girls (15-19 years) have a low body mass index.

Q: The reduction of anaemia is prioritized by the government under Poshan among children, adolescents and women during reproductive stage, to what extent it is successful?

A: Anaemia among all age-groups has reduced in last one decade. The State has been able to bring anaemia prevalence among women (15-49 years) from 69.3 per cent (NFHS-3, 2005-06) to 46 per cent (NFHS-4, 2015-16). During the same period, prevalence of anaemia among children under-5 has reduced from 69.4 per cent to 35.7 per cent.

Q: What role is UNICEF in Assam playing in combating undernutrition?

A: UNICEF in Assam works with the government in implementing the flagship programme – Poshan Abhiyaan. UNICEF has partnered with a range of stakeholders to address the issue of under-nutrition in children and women, with a focus on stunting.

Q: What has been the success rate of the stunting reduction (Poshan Abhiyaan) in Assam?

A: It is aimed at the gradual reduction of stunting, strengthening convergent planning and reviewing nutrition interventions.

Q: To what extent community engagement is successful under the Poshan Abhiyan?

A: Jan Andolan (people's movement) is focusing on the need to educate people about nutrition, food habits and translating food to nutrition, among others during Poshan Maah. In it, Anganwadi workers and all health frontline workers are heroes as they strengthening this network.

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