To combat severe acute malnutrition (SAM) plaguing lives of countless young children in state, Rajasthan health department will launch phase II of government’s ambitious malnutrition-busting programme—CMAM. Community Management of Acute Malnutrition is a drive to improve nutrition quality in rural areas. Nutritionists believe that toddlers suffering from 9% nutritional deficiency are at a higher risk of death. Therefore, the government has intensified their efforts to reach out to as many people as possible.
Prior to 2011, the programme was known as CTC (Community Therapeutic Care). Through this 30-day programme, ready-to-use, quality food products are delivered to young children and people suffering from malnourishment. The malnourished folks didn’t have to travel long distances to access these centres because government’s team reaches out to people in need.
According to the data released by NFHS-3 (National Family Health Survey) a decade back, the percentage of malnourished children in state was 7.3%. However, NFHS-4 survey results reveal that 8.6% children below 5 years of age are currently suffering from severe malnutrition. To resolve this issue, the first phase of this programme is launched in 41 blocks of Rajasthan including Baran, Barmer, Banswara, Bundi, Dungarpur, Dholpur, Jalore, Karauli, Jaisalmer, Pratapgarh, Rajasamnd, Sirohi and Udaipur. The list included 3 tribal and 10 high priority districts and around 9,529 children were benefitted from the first phase of CMAM.
To intensify its fight against deficiency disease, state health department is braced up to release their community-based model for combating malnutrition this month. Compared to earlier, the health officials claim that second phase of CMAM will be bigger and better than before. The government will team up with international development partners to chalk out strategies for phase II that aims at covering 62 blocks under this program.
If implemented correctly, approximately 25,000 children will be benefitted from this programme. The second phase will target 7 new districts including Bikaner, Bharatpur, Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, Churu, Jhalawar and Sawai Madhopur.
Hopefully, this will prevent death caused due to hunger and malnutrition.
