The cost of treating malnutrition is 27 times the cost of the cost of preventing it, therefore the focus on prevention is critical to reduce levels of undernutrition
NEW DELHI (India CSR): World Vision India (WVI), a grass root humanitarian organization hosted a national level consultation on the theme ‘Enroute to Kuposhan Mukt Bharat’ at the India International Centre, in New Delhi on August 20, 2018.
The panelists at the day long consultation discussed on the need for partnerships and focused multi-sectoral approach to scale up maternal and child health services in the country.
The consultation was an opportunity to share and disseminate best practices for reducing undernutrition, maximizing the impact and reaching the most vulnerable through proven community mobilization strategies and scale up models.
National Coalition for Food and Nutrition Security
World Vision India has an integrated program across 60 locations to improve the nutritional status of pregnant women, newborns, infants and children less than 2 years of age. Through this consultation, the National Coalition for Food and Nutrition Security along with World Vision India intends to facilitate scaling up of best practices to eradicate malnutrition among vulnerable communities and put forward innovative ideas and solutions for tackling on-ground challenges and policy formulations.
National Nutrition Month
Dr. Vinod K.Paul, Member, Niti Aayog said, “I urge all stakeholders to join the ‘National Nutrition Month’ which is the month of September, so as to create a big buzz around POSHAN. A plethora of activities are planned, this would be the month when the POSHAN Abhiyan would be taken to a different level across the country.”
Food security to nutrition security
Addressing the consultation through a video message, Prof. M.S Swaminathan stated, Patron and Emeritus Chair, Coalition for Food and Nutrition Security “If you want to have healthy mothers, healthy children you have to attack the different types of hungers. I strongly believe we need to now move from food security to nutrition security, where not only calories and proteins but also micronutrients are there. All that needs to be done is to bring agriculture, health and nutrition together into a triangular relationship, which can only be achieved through partnerships.”
Malnutrition a India’s silent emergency
“Malnutrition is India’s silent emergency and one of the greatest human development challenges. To address malnutrition there is a need for change in household behaviour, strong supervision, independent monitoring and knowledge management for effective policy, program, and budgetary action.” stated Cherian Thomas, National Director and CEO of World Vision India
The cost of treating malnutrition
Dr. K.P. Wasnik, Additional Commissioner (Extension) Ministry of Agriculture & Farmer’s Welfare, Govt. of India highlighted, “It is the responsibility of all stakeholders to eradicate undernutrition and ensure sustainable human development. The cost of treating malnutrition is 27 times the cost of the cost of preventing it, therefore the focus on prevention is critical to reduce levels of undernutrition.”
Role of agriculture
“Agriculture plays a very important role in ensuring nutrition since it has the potential to reduce poverty, a key contributor to undernutrition. It can also contribute to economy and increase government revenues to fund infrastructure, health and malnutrition prevention programmes. We should make nutrition visible and prioritize it at all levels.”
Need of collaboration
World Vision India urged the Centre, Civil Society organizations and individuals working at the national level to collaborate and work towards ending malnutrition and childhood illnesses by 2020.
The consultation
The consultation included sessions on Overview of National Nutrition Strategy, Partnerships and Collaborations the way towards a Nourished India, Return on investment –What counts?, Last mile solutions – What Civil society organisations can do better? And Enhancing service delivery for Kuposhan Mukt Bharat. Panelists for the consultation include- Dr, Chandrakant S Pandav, Coalition Vice Chair, The Coalition for Food and Nutrition Security, Rasmi Avula, Research Fellow, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Dr. Sujeet Ranjan, Executive Director, The Coalition for Food and Nutrition Security and Dr. Satish Agnihotri, IIT Mumbai.
SDGS and National Nutrition Strategy
The experts analysed nutrition landscape and reiterated the need to develop a comprehensive plans with the respective state government departments, to fulfill India’s commitment to global health and nutrition target, Sustainable Development Goals and National Nutrition Strategy.
