Nutrition

The Challenge

According to National Family Health Survey – 4 (2015-16)

36% Children under five years are underweight (Weight for Age) in Maharashtra.

94% Children age 6-23 months doesn’t receive adequate diet in Maharashtra.

34% Children under five years of age are stunted (Height for Age) in Maharashtra.

SNEH Solution

SNEH in partnership with Tata Motors CSR Pune and Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) is working on a Community based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) intervention for the past four years to combat malnutrition in urban slums of Pune & PCMC. SNEH’s approach is a two-fold where we initiate a yearlong intervention which includes providing WHO recommended fortified nutrition supplements, multivitamins, and iron supplements (therapeutic) to malnourished children on one hand, and a vigorous campaign which includes street plays, puppet shows, recipe sessions, and digital sessions to raise awareness about the causes and prevention of malnutrition and how to address them on the other.

The project is led by a team of community link workers and social workers and expert pediatricians who work day in day out to implement the multifaceted intervention with an intention to move the severely malnourished children to health zone, prevent diarrhea, ensure proper vaccination, spread awareness about sanitation, cleanliness, anemia, and child feeding practices. SNEH focuses on working closely with mothers and family members to make sure the protocol is followed and in the course of the process we make sure that the family prioritizes health as a top priority.

Impact

500+ severely malnourished children from 11 slum pockets of PCMC have been identified with malnutrition till date and were provided with yearlong intervention focusing on awareness and sustainability

90% of children have moved to healthy zone and have sustained in the last two years. In 2017-18 alone, out of 264 children with severe and moderate malnutrition, 99% children have been successfully moved to a healthy zone.

5000+ families indirectly impacted with regards to awareness on malnutrition, immunization, breastfeeding, etc. through mass awareness sessions such as street plays, digital sessions, recipe sessions, home visits, counseling, etc. in the communities.

100+ health cases from the respective communities have been identified and intervened through referrals, treatments, crowdfunding, parent counseling, etc.