Chennai: Deliberating on concerns of malnutrition in children, the Tamil Nadu State Planning Commission has issued a few recommendations to the government. The document explains the importance of adequate nutrition in childhood for healthy physical and cognitive development, as well as the importance of strong immunity, which will enable children to stay healthy. Key recommendations include prioritising the first 1,000 days of an infant, scaling up interventions before pregnancy and in adolescence, including anaemia status in children as a permanent agenda item in monthly school management committee meetings, and addressing the rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases (high cholesterol, low HDL, high triglycerides, hypertension and obesity) in children. Other recommendations include implementing community sensitisation strategies, including perception assessments, information sessions, structured scheduling and targeted information, education and communication (IEC) campaigns, focusing on improving complementary feeding practices, increasing dietary diversity and clear communication about unsuitable infant foods.
It also pointed to the need to revamp Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and mid-day meal programmes by including fortified foods, fruits and diverse protein sources, as well as expanding micronutrient supplements with emphasis on vitamin C for better iron absorption. Other recommendations include deworming initiatives and fortified food distribution, implementing innovative behaviour change programmes leveraging the ‘antecedent, behaviour and consequence’ (ABC) model, using social media, gamification and audio-visual media for effective nutrition education, and conducting training for Anganwadi workers to ensure sustainable nutrition and health support for children with severe acute malnutrition and moderate acute malnutrition.
