New Delhi, Sep 18 (UNI) Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Ashwini Kumar Choubey on
Tuesday inaugurated a two-day National Dissemination Workshop on Anemia Mukt Bharat and
Home-Based Young Child Care (HBYC) here
Speaking on Anemia Mukt Bharat and Home-based Young Child Care, he said 'Both of these programmes
are our commitment to the ‘PoshanAbhiyaan’ in improving the nutritional outcomes in this population.'
Participants of the workshop include senior officials from key Ministries (MoHFW, MWCD, MHRD, MoTA,
MoRD) and state nodal officers for both the programmes, representatives of various UN agencies and
development partners.
After making huge strides in reducing Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) and achieving MDGs, India would now be addressing the burden of anemia and under-nutrition among children in the country.
'With an average prevalence of 40 per cent across all age groups, anemia still is a challenge which needs
attention,' he said and appealed to create a ‘Jan Andolan’ for nutrition and contribute to this hard work
of ensuring survival and healthy development of every new-born of future India.
At the function, Mr Choubey also released the Toolkit for Anemia Mukt Bharat & Home-Based care for Young
Child programmes.
Dr VK Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog was also present at the inaugural function. The objective of this workshop is to orient the state programme managers for rolling out these interventions.
The Anemia Mukt Bharat- intensified Iron-plus Initiative aims to strengthen the existing mechanisms and
foster newer strategies for tackling anemia, focused on six target beneficiary groups, through six interventions
and six institutional mechanisms; to achieve the envisaged target under the POSHAN Abhiyan.
The Home-Based Care of Young Child (HBYC) programme hopes to reduce child mortality and morbidity by
improving nutrition status, growth and early childhood development of young children through structured and
focused home visits by ASHAs with the support of Anganwadi workers (AWWs).
UNI SD SHK1626