Gujarat Minister directs officials to ensure continuous follow-up of malnutrition cases

Gandhinagar, Aug 10 (IANS) Gujarat Women and Child Development Minister Manisha Vakil has directed officials to ensure continuous follow-up of malnourished children until they recover, as the state prepares to organise ‘Poshan Sangam Health Camps’ alongside a major expansion of child-friendly Anganwadis.

The instruction was issued at a one-day state-level workshop on ‘3,300+ Child-Friendly Anganwadis and Poshan Sangam Health Camp’ held in Gandhinagar under the chairmanship of Dr Vakil.

The workshop focused on Anganwadi infrastructure and planning for early childhood care.

“An Anganwadi is not merely a centre for providing nutrition, but the first step towards the holistic development of children and a true temple of education,” Dr Vakil said.

She stressed the need for a safe and child-friendly environment in the newly constructed Anganwadis, which will range from 600 to 900 square feet.

Citing the importance of the first six years of a child’s development, she said: "The Anganwadi environment should encourage play and activity."

She directed that Anganwadi workers and helpers be trained in modern teaching methods and innovative activities such as floor games, drawing and children’s songs.

The minister said special health camps would be organised for malnourished children at the Anganwadi level.

She made it clear that medical examination or the provision of medicines alone would not be sufficient and directed officials to maintain regular follow-up until children came out of malnutrition.

"Parents should also be contacted and provided appropriate nutritional guidance," she said.

Under the proposed statewide ‘Poshan Sangam Health Camps’, the Health Department and Women and Child Development Department will work together.

Dr Vakil also called for arrangements during 'Mamta Day' to allow ASHA workers and Anganwadi workers to coordinate the weighing, height measurement, and vaccination of pregnant women, adolescent girls, and children at a single location.

Women and Child Development Department Secretary Dr Rakesh Shankar outlined the department’s ongoing work and plans. "ICDS and the Roads and Buildings Department had established positive cooperation for the structural development of Anganwadis," he said.

More than 3,300 new Anganwadis are being developed through the joint efforts of the two departments, while around 1,507 Anganwadis for which tenders have been floated by the Roads and Buildings Department are also under construction.

Experts from IIT Gandhinagar are being engaged to support quality and technically sound construction.

Dr Shankar said the department was committed to the ‘Smart Anganwadi’ vision through third-party inspections and adherence to quality standards.

At the workshop, UNICEF presented type designs and 3D layouts for smart Anganwadis designed to be child-friendly, safe and environmentally protective.

IIT Gandhinagar experts provided guidance on third-party inspections for maintaining construction quality.

The Secretary of the Roads and Buildings Department provided technical guidance to district teams on construction quality and time-bound implementation.

The Commissioner (ICDS) and Commissioner of Health made detailed presentations on the policy, guidelines and implementation framework for the ‘Poshan Sangam Health Camps’.

Officials and employees who had performed outstanding work in the Anganwadi sector were also presented certificates of appreciation by the ICDS team.

Senior officials of the Women and Child Development Department, the Commissioner of ICDS, district-level engineers, programme officers, and representatives and experts from IIT Gandhinagar and UNICEF attended the workshop.

--IANS

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