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Nutrition is an input to and foundation for health and
development. Better nutrition means stronger immune systems, less illness and
better health. Healthy children learn better. Healthy people are stronger,
are more productive and more able to create opportunities to gradually break
the cycles of both poverty and hunger in a sustainable way. Better nutrition
is a prime entry point to ending poverty and a milestone to achieving better
quality of life. Freedom from hunger and malnutrition is a basic human right
and their alleviation is a fundamental prerequisite for human and national
development.
Nutritional
Profile of India:
Health
Indicators: Through precipitating disease and speeding its
progression, malnutrition is a leading contributor to infant, child and
maternal mortality. The infant mortality rate has shown a marginal decline
and is presently 58 per thousand live births. (SRS 2004) This plateau can be
removed if efforts are focused towards the eradication of malnutrition..
Malnutrition:
Chronic malnutrition among pre-school children as reflected by stunting and
wasting is 38.4 per cent and 19.1 per cent respectively as per National
Family Health Survey (NFHS- 3, 2005-‘06). Data from the same survey
reflect 45.9 per cent pre-school children are under-weight.
Chronic
Energy Deficiency: The
prevalence of Chronic Energy Deficiency (CED) in adults as assessed through
Body Mass Index (BMI). CED in adult females is 35.8 per cent during 1998-99
while CED in adult males has declined to 37 per cent in 2000-01.
Vitamin
A deficiency:The prevalence of Bitot’s Spots in preschool children is presently 0.7 per
cent. The prevalence of night blindness has reduced to 1.3 per cent during
1997-2000.
Iron
Deficiency Anemia:The prevalence
of anemia among pregnant women has declined to 57.9 per cent in 2005-’06. National Family Health Survey 3 (2005—’06)
places the prevalence of anemia among pre-school children and adult men at
79.2 per cent and 24.3 per cent respectively.
As per the latest data available for lactating women and adolescent
girls, the prevalence of anemia is 77.7 per cent (2003) and 68-70 per cent
respectively (2003).
Iodine
Deficiency Disorders: The surveys conducted by the Central and State
Health Directorates, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Medical Institutes
have clearly demonstrated that not even a single State/ UT is free from the
problem of IDD. Sample surveys have been conducted in 28 states and 7 Union
territories which have revealed that out of 324 districts surveyed so far,
263 districts are IDD endemic. i.e., the prevalence of IDD is above 10 per
cent.
Infant
and Young Child Feeding: Only 23.4
per cent initiate breastfeeding within one hour of birth.46.3 per cent
infants receive exclusive breastfeeding up to five months of age. 55.8 per
cent infants receive complementary foods between 6-9 months of age along with
breastfeeding (NFHS –3, 2005-06).
Low
birth weight:Nearly one-third of
all children born have low birth weight i.e., weight <2.5 kg at birth.
WHO, India
ongoing Technical support and Collaborative programmes:
The focus of activities of the
World Health Organization vis-à-vis nutrition is limited not only to the vast
magnitude of the various forms of nutritional deficiency, along with their associated
mortality and morbidity in infants, young children and mothers but also to
the other form malnutrition characterized by obesity and the long-term
implications of unbalanced dietary and lifestyle practices that result in
chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes.
1. Iodine Deficiency Disorders: The
main areas of collaboration and the activities undertaken in that particular
area include the following:
Research:
 Multi-centric
survey to assess the magnitude of IDD
Multi-centric
research project on Iodine losses at different levels of cooking
Advocacy:
IEC activities to promote consumption of iodised salt
Development, production and printing of IEC materials on IDD (2004)
Regional Dissemination workshops on reinstatement of ban on sale of
non-iodised salt (2006)
Global IDD Elimination Day consultation at national and regional level
(2007)
Capacity building:
National
multisectoral workshop for implementation of NIDDCP
Zonal
level workshop for awareness creation for salt manufacturers and traders
Training programme for State / UT level Technical Officers in IDD and
its control (2002)
Training programme for senior level Programme Officers from all States
/ UTs about NIDDCP (2004)
Training programmes (3 nos.) for Lab. Technicians in IDD monitoring
(2002, 2004)
Regional multi-sectoral Workshop for
implementation of NIDDCP and ban on sale of non-iodised salt (2006)
Regional workshop for State / UT level Technical Officers for training
in IDD and ban on sale of non-iodised salt (2006)
Monitoring and Evaluation:
Supplies provided to strengthen the State and Central
IDD control cells and IDD monitoring labs
2.
Anaemia: The main areas of collaboration and the activities
undertaken in that particular area include the following:
Research
and development:
Testing the operational feasibility of the Haemoglobin Colour Scale
Developing comprehensive guidelines for anaemia control and prevention
3. Infant and Young Child Feeding: The main areas of collaboration and the
activities undertaken in that particular area include the following:
Research and Development:
Adaptation of Global Infant and Young Child Feeding Strategy (IYCF);
Adaptation & Field testing of WHO modules on Infant and Young
Child Feeding during emergencies
Partners:
Government:
Nutrition Division, Ministry
of health and Family Welfare, GOI
Department of Women and Child
Development
Salt Commissioner ate
UN Agencies:
UNICEF
World Bank
WHO Collaborating Center:
National Institute
of Nutrition, Hyderabad
MS UNIVERSITY VADODRA
NGO:
Nutrition Society of India
Nutrition Foundation of India
List of Publications Events and
Workshops
Links:
 Headquarter
website
SEARO website
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