The frontliners of the first 1,000-day window of life – on addressing child and maternal health

Source– The post is based on the article “The frontliners of the first 1,000-day window of life” published in The Hindu on 8th November 2022.

Syllabus: GS2- Issue relating to poverty and hunger

News- The article explains the importance of child and maternal health to address malnutrition among children. It also explains the importance of frontline workers.

Why is addressing malnutrition important ?

Optimal maternal nutrition and child feeding are the most effective set of interventions in reducing child deaths, preventing malnutrition and determining cognitive development.

Specifically, the first 1,000 days of life are critical in ensuring optimal growth, child survival and lifelong health and nutrition. In fact, 80% of brain development takes place in the first 1,000 days of life.

What are some facts related to POSHAN Abhiyan?

It is under the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD).

Its overarching goal is to improve nutritional outcomes by focusing on capacity building, improvement of service delivery, community mobilization and participation, use of technology, and inter-ministerial convergent planning and review.

There is an enhanced focus on documentation of interventions coverage in the first 1,000 days, such as registration of pregnancies, antenatal checkup, and exclusive breastfeeding.

What is the way forward to improve child health and nutrition?

Evidence-based interventions are needed to be delivered with high coverage, continuity over the first 1,000 days of life and across delivery channels, intensity, quality and equity.

The health and nutrition status of women, including the weight and hemoglobin level and age of conception need to be taken care of. These are important determinants of child health.

We need to improve preconception care before delivery. The program by MoHFW to improve preconception care in the Nashik district of Maharashtra shows its utility in improving child health.

Men play a very important role in ensuring maternal and newborn health. They can influence behaviors and good practices around child health within their households and communities.

It is crucial to empower our frontline workers who are driving change at the last mile. There is a need for regular skilling, supportive supervision and motivation of frontline workers to deliver focused and quality nutrition and health services.

What is the importance of frontline workers?

All such interventions are needed to be delivered last mile by the network of the frontline work force like ASHAs, ANMs and Anganwadi Workers.

In many geographies, they are the only access point to basic nutrition and other health services. They are critical in promoting healthy practices, providing on-ground support, and improving awareness.

For example, during the Poshan Pakhwada in March 2022, in a remote village in Uttar Pradesh, the frontline workers made sustained efforts for child health and nutrition. All families with children below two were able to overcome age-old fears and misconceptions. It shows the importance of frontline workers.