JAMMU: Secretary Health & Medical Education (H&ME), Bhupinder Kumar, today chaired a meeting of a committee constituted to work on Health and Nutrition under Viksit Bharat Abhiyan to work out strategies and action plan for eliminating Anaemia, Micro Nutrient deficiencies, stunting and wasting across J&K.
The meeting was held with the aim to identify measurable indicators in each thematic area and preparing a strategy/action plan for addressing identified gaps for improvement of the indicators through a targeted approach with timelines.
During the meeting, the Committee deliberated upon various aspects affecting the health and nutrition of the general masses. Detailed discussions were held on the severity of the problem and measures required for strengthening existing interventions in coordination with other stakeholder departments for addressing the issues.
The Committee, during the meeting, also developed a consensus that there is a need to conduct the assessment of existing implementation strategies of schemes/interventions and gap analysis of supplies, equipment, and instruments in use for screening and treatment in health facilities, AWCs, and Schools.
In addition, it was also suggested that there is a need to conduct thorough studies so as to quantify values of various indicators related to the theme, for ensuring an objective approach towards deciding the interventions required.
The committee members during the meeting also agreed that food fortification is a scientifically proven, cost-effective, scalable, and sustainable global intervention for addressing the issue of micronutrient deficiencies. They agreed that introduction and scaling up of food fortification of various food items commonly used by the general masses is the need of the hour.
During the meeting, directions were issued to examine different aspects of the implementation of schemes and programmes implemented by different departments so that future strategies, targets, interventions, and action plan is devised for coordinated efforts toward ensuring the desired level of health and nutrition with defined outcomes.
The meeting was attended by Food Commissioner J&K, Mission Director NHM J&K, Mission Director, POSHAN J&K, Mission Director, Samagra Shiksha, J&K, Director Health Services Jammu/Kashmir, Controller Drugs & Food Control Organization J&K and other concerned officers.
Principal Govt. Medical College Jammu/Srinagar, Director School Education, Jammu/Kashmir, and other concerned officials attended the meeting through Video Conferencing.
