Malnutrition And Childhood Illness: World Vision India Calls For Collaborative Efforts For Better Results By 2020

Bhubaneswar: All the children of the country should be healthy. A collective effort is required to address malnutrition. All the stakeholders should work together and make Odisha free of malnutrition, said Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Women and Child Development Minister Prafulla Samal, at a state-level consultation, organised by World Vision India (WVI) here on Friday

The WVI, a grassroots humanitarian organisation held the consultation on ‘Reducing Malnutrition and Childhood Illnesses in Odisha’. It included a panel discussion on ‘Convergence and Partnerships for Addressing Under-Nutrition in Odisha’.

The panelists discussed the need for a multi-sectoral approach to develop partnerships and strategies to scale up maternal and child health services in the state.

The panelists also analysed India’s nutrition landscape and reiterated the need to develop a comprehensive state level plan in partnership with government departments, to fulfill India’s commitment to global health and nutrition target and Sustainable Development Goals.

WVI representatives urged the state government, civil society organisations and individuals working at the state level to collaborate and work towards ending malnutrition and childhood illnesses by 2020.

WVI Child Health and Nutrition lead Grana Pu Selvi said, “The Nutrition Action Plan is a unique effort of the Odisha State Government to end malnutrition. All the stakeholders, including Non- Governmental Organisations need to work in synergy with the Government, to holistically address the issue of undernutrition in children.”

WVI’s nutrition intervention programme, ‘Children Enjoy Healthy Childhood’ in the districts of Bolangir, Nuapada, Sambalpur and Kalahandi Districts has seen positive results within three years of its implementation.

During the consultation, WVI representatives shared their learnings and best practices.

Nutrition Specialist, UNICEF, Sourav Bhattacharya and Water Aid Regional Head, Bishakha Bhanja were present as panelists.