Mangan, 30 Sept (IPR): Social Justice, Empowerment and Welfare Department, North District, Government of Sikkim organized the closing ceremony of “Poshan Maah” campaign here at the conference hall of Zilla Bhawan in Mangan today.
It is to be mentioned, the entire month of September was celebrated as Rashtriya Poshan Maah (National Nutritional Month). This year the theme was Complimentary Feeding. Prime Minister’s Overreaching Scheme for Holistic Nourishment (POSHAN ABHIYAAN) is a multi-ministerial convergence mission with the vision to address malnutrition with the targeted approach by 2022.
The closing ceremony of Poshan Maah campaign was graced by Smt. Chungkipu Lepcha. The ceremony also had the presence of District Collector, North, Shri Tenzing T. Kaleon, Chief Medical Officer, North, Shri D.C. Sharma, Additional District Collector (Development), North, Shri Somnath Adhikari, POSHAN Abhiyaan, Mission Director, Phuchung Bhutia, ICDS, District Co-ordinator, North, Miss Sonam Wangmu, CDPO/Mangan, Smt. Lhanzay Donka Bhutia, CDPO/Chungthang, Smt. Sonam Laden Lachungpa, and CDPO/Dzongu, Shri Nedup Lepcha, Integrated Child Development Service, Supervisor, North, Smt Aruna Rai, BDOs, Accredited Social Health Activist workers, ICDS staffs, Anganwadi workers, teachers, parents and students.
Chief guest Smt. Chungkipu Lepcha, in her short speech, praised the efforts put up by the Aganwadi, ASHA and ICDS workers who are making the difference in the rural community by spreading awareness on leading a healthy lifestyle. Further, she said that this month long nutritional campaign was an eye opener for mothers and children in the community.
POSHAN Abhiyaan, Principal Director, Phuchung Bhutia apprised everyone about the importance of POSHAN Maah campaign as the previous nutritional programmes in the country had failed to bring any results. He informed everyone that POSHAN Maah is the world’s largest nutritional programme. The target of this campaign is to reduce stunting in children by 2% per annum.
DC/N, Shri Kaleon, in his address gave a brief outline of POSHAN Maah initiated by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. Congratulating the Aganwadi workers he said that the POSHAN Maah campaign has far reaching consequences on the country’s economy as healthy population leads to healthy economic growth.
Further, he said that the statistics of high numbers of stunted and anemic children in the district is alarming. He hoped that this month long nutritional campaign would bear fruits in the future and that this campaign will continue beyond this month.
CMO/N, Shri Sharma explained two types of nutrients (micronutrients and macronutrients) which is necessary for a person to lead a healthy life. He underlined the importance of having a healthy community as a society full of health issues only bring economic and social productivity loss. It was reported during the meeting that the main causes of malnutrition are 1) Inadequate intake and 2) Faulty diet habits. Shri Sharma hoped that the POSHAN Maah month will correct the faulty dietary habits amongst the general public in the district.
CDPO Mangan, Smt. Bhutia spoke on the first 1,000 days of baby’s life is a very crucial period where physical, intellectual and emotional development takes place. She emphasized to the general people to take care of new born baby right from birth to 2 years of age.
CDPO, Chungthang, Smt. Lachungpa gave a concise data on Anemia and its causes. She explained that the anemia is caused when a person’s body has decreased amount of Red Blood Cells and in order to tackle it a person can reach nearest health centre or ICDS centre to get Iron tablets, syrups, iron tablets for women and deworming tablets.
CDPO, Dzongu, Shri Lepcha spoke about Diarrhea management through the use of ORS packets which will be provided for free at any ICDS centres in the district. He urged everyone to boil the water before drinking. In addition, he said that proper hand washing technique plays a vital role in preventing diarrhea and others water borne diseases.
ICDS, District Co-ordinator, Miss Sonam Wangmu gave a report on the activities done by the ICDS during POSHAN Maah campaign. According to the report, there has been 1,622 activities and participation of 37,590 personnel in this campaign. These activities included Poshan Melas, school based events, recipe demonstration, village awareness programme, cleanliness drive, and community based events, hand washing demonstration, anemic camp and home visits.
On the occasion, Northern Bikers who participated in the POSHAN Maah bike rally in the district and the schools who actively participated on closing ceremony were felicitated by the organizing body.
