Observed every year on 7 April, World Health Day is celebrated to highlight specific topic on health concern all over the world. World Health Day 2023 will focus on the theme, ‘Health for All,’ marking the 75th anniversary of the World Health Organization (WHO). It provides an opportunity to come together and motivate action to address health challenges that the world is facing today.
In India, one of the major health challenges is malnutrition in children. The recent NFHS- 5 (National Family Health Survey) data presents a grim picture of the nutritional status of children in India. We need to act now to prevent malnutrition in children. The key indicators of child nutrition; stunting (low height for age), wasting (low weight for height) and underweight (low weight for age) in children below 5 years of age show a dip suggesting acute or chronic child under-nutrition. Failure to act now to end malnutrition will have devastating long-term consequences for children, human capital and national economy. World Bank states that 1% loss in adult height due to childhood stunting is associated with a 1.4% loss in economic productivity. Globally, the cost of malnutrition is estimated at US$3.5 trillion per year, or US$500 per person. You can donate online towards World Vision India’s health programs that save children's lives and prevent malnutrition in children.
COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly challenged the lives and livelihoods of marginal communities by limiting their access to food. Consumption of nutritious food is on the decline as poor households are cutting down on quantity and quality of food. While India has taken strides in reducing malnutrition in children, much still needs to be done before the country can reach the global targets.
The evolving nature of child malnutrition demands a multifaceted response that supports optimal nutrition at every stage of life and ensure we prevent malnutrition in children. Socio-economic inequities are increasing in most parts of the world and many families are changing the way they eat or feed their children because of poverty and the rising cost of good diets. The climate crisis, the loss of biodiversity, the damage done to water, air and soil, and the increasing number, duration and complexity of health epidemics and humanitarian crises pose critical challenges to feeding children sustainably today and for generations to come.
According to NFHS-5 less than half of Indians consume milk or pulses on a daily basis. The inclusion of legumes, dairy, fish, poultry and flesh foods in diets can help reduce stunting and anemia. Due to illiteracy, most people are not aware about their health, nutrition, balanced diet and breastfeeding practices. Through public awareness, community engagement and empowerment, people need to realize their rights and entitlements and develop community-based solutions to malnutrition which will also help put less burden on the stressed public healthcare and ICDS infrastructure.
World Vision India supports the Government’s efforts to reduce stunting and wasting among the most vulnerable children. This is being done by universalizing coverage of proven high-impact interventions around the 1000 days – from conception to two years. Improving child feeding practices, especially complementary foods between 6 and 18 months of age, are also critical.
Social and behaviour change initiatives, such as community-level counselling, dialogue, media engagement and advocacy, especially in marginalized communities, is integral to promoting usage of locally available, nutrient-dense affordable foods for young children. We are making good progress to prevent malnutrition in children, reduce stunting and other forms of undernutrition.
The findings of NFHS 5 call on India to seize the current opportunity presented by the ongoing national efforts of POSHAN Abhiyaan to address the gaps in addressing malnutrition. Efforts to end malnutrition in children need to become a “Jan Andolan”. Donate online to support and join like-minded citizens to end malnutrition in children and build a nation fit for children.
Rebirth Care Trust group puts stock in carrying smiles to the essences of some unprivileged kids through a 'drive for smiles.
This Initiative is a piece of our Outreach Exposure Programmed under our Shiksha Mission project.
We simply need those youngsters to see dreams with open eyes, which will be fulfilled one day.
In this drive we for the most part plan a nearby visit for these youngsters in a sumptuous vehicle.
It is really an instructive excursion in which we attempt to give wings to their interest.
In transit back, a lunch party is given to these children in a rich eatery.
Amrtyu Foundation’s public level program through its occupation projects prepares poor people and oppressed youth in English Proficiency, Basic Computer Education, and Soft Skills for improving their possibilities of work in the quick extending retail, friendliness, and BPO areas.
Up until this point, 47,000 youth have been prepared through the e-learning program and 28,000 have been put in more than 200 brands through 95 operational tasks across India.
Different examinations, just as our experience, have shown that when we run after ladies strengthening, the entire society benefits.
However, shockingly in India, a long way from enabling ladies, most are denied even their essential rights like wellbeing, instruction of young ladies for ladies strengthening, work, and a good status in the public arena.
This program was started in 2005 to address these difficulties through a straightforward yet powerful methodology.
The program is explicitly focused on the acknowledgment of both individual and aggregate confidence and inward strength for underestimated and socially barred ladies and juvenile young ladies through inventive local area rehearsals.
