Expand food basket under PDS, says WHO scientist

What is the News?

The World Health Organisation(WHO) chief scientist has attended a seminar titled “Ensuring food and nutrition security in the context of climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic”.

Key Highlights from the Seminar:

Expand Public Distribution System(PDS):

• Currently, the Public Distribution System(PDS) in India is taking care of food insecurity by providing only cereals.
• The Government of India should expand the food basket of the PDS by including Millets, pulses, fruits, vegetables and animal proteins.
• This will ensure that sufficient nutrition is available to people in lower socio-economic groups.

Optimum Nutrition to Children:

• The governments should organize campaigns to bring a behavioural change of families towards providing optimum nutrition to children.
• The optimum nutrition to babies can be provided by intensive breastfeeding, kangaroo mother care and providing diverse nutritious complementary food to babies. 

About Kangaroo Mother Care:

• Kangaroo mother care is a method of care for preterm infants. The method involves infants being carried, usually by the mother, with skin-to-skin contact.