Health scheme for Melghat's kids, mothers launched

Mumbai: Alarmed by 20 per cent of severe malnutrition at Melghat, the Maharashtra government has adopted a community-based approach to improve health and nutritional status. The initiative includes providing food and medicines to infants and pregnant women, monitoring their health and creating awareness about hygiene and cleanliness.

The five-year programme of Rs 128 crore was approved by the Centre this year and Maharashtra has its share of Rs 4.5 crore.

There are 30 areas in Melghat with a population of 300 to 2,500, who would benefit from the programme. Melghat was chosen for the programme, as it is one of the remotest areas without sufficient infrastructure like hospitals, roads, and transport.

A survey, which was also conducted about the tribal there, highlighted severe malnutrition among 20 per cent. The death ratio is 1000:90 from zero to five years of age.  About 90 per cent people have no access to toilets.

In its latest decision, the tribal department has aimed at reducing deaths among the children below five years of age and also severe malnutrition among them.

“Regular monitoring of pregnant woman, infants and children below five years of age would be conducted. The infants/children from age group of six months to six years that fall under the category of severely malnourished would be given medicines and food,” a government resolution (GR) said.

The tribal department would be conducting awareness programmes for the age group 16 to 60 to reduce the death ratio.

One important initiative under the project would be about bringing awareness about cleanliness and hygiene habits. “They will be taught not to defecate openly, prevention of tobacco, healthy food habits, etc. The awareness programme would include flipcharts, posters, audio-visual medium to highlight the problems of the malnutrition and steps to be taken to eradicate it,” the GR added.

In April this year, activists had complained to the Bombay high court that no action has been taken by authorities to curb malnutrition among children at Melghat between age 0 and 5 years. The court has asked the authorities to submit a reply within two weeks.