Chandigarh.18th March,2021:The enthusiasm to break away from the vicious circle of malnutrition and malnourishment continued to be seen on the third day of Poshan Pakhwada 2021, throughout the city. Following the mission raised by the Department of Social Welfare, Women & Child Development, U.T. Chandigarh, various activities were organized citywide taking into consideration the diverse strata and communities. No stone was left unturned in order to aware and inform the public of Chandigarh.
A drawing competition was organized at Khudda Lahora on healthy foods, to help realize the mission of inculcating nutritional values in the participants and other beneficiaries. A number of minor activities were also organized as a part of the Pakhwada in all 450 Anganwadi Centres, to consistently help the people understand and get aware of various modules related to Poshan. The pregnant women, lactating women and their family members were given a demonstration on making ORS at home, along with a lecture on the importance of health and nutrition for the first 1000 thousand days of a person.
Home visits from the Anganwadi workers were organized on the importance and care of breastfeeding during the first year. Various lectures on anaemia were organized to eliminate the root cause of anaemia and provide free medication for the ones who are anaemic and cannot afford treatment. The preschools were involved around the city so that the little children can become a part of the process and instilled nutritional values through activities and taking their help to inform their families. A Healthy Baby Show was organized at Circle 25, addressing the nutritional challenges faced by mothers in bringing up a child. A Mother Meeting was also organized at Behlana as a part of Poshan Panchayat, explaining the needs and methods of improving nutrition.
Another Chaupal Charcha on Poshan, also known as Poshan Panchayat was organized in the Anganwadi Centre sector- 41, describing the ways to make iron-rich low-cost recipes for the people suffering from anaemia. They also organized lectures with a targeted audience of adolescents and steps to an effective way of washing hands. A Poshan Panchayat in Daria was organized and displayed a Poshtik Mandi with iron-rich fruits, vegetables and other rations. A poshan-themed rangoli was made with the mission to aware the spectators of the importance of nutrition in food. The Anganwadi workers visited the homes of pregnant women in their first trimester and were given education about the nourishment of their babies through nutritious substances.
In GMSH-16, Chandigarh, hospital OPDs were involved in activities about Poshan ke 5 Sutras for children, pregnant women and lactating mothers. The team of Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram also conducted activities on Poshan ke 5 Sutras in various Schools around the city. The students and faculty of Home Science College Sector- 10, Chandigarh conducted Kitchen Herbs Plantation and encouraged everyone to plant the herbs and include them in daily diet. Complementing the idea, a Yoga camp was organized in the Government College of Yoga Education and Health, Sector – 23 wherein power poses were taught to the participants, to increase immunity.
Many other events included lectures on the diversity of diet, personal hygiene, education about the steps of handwashing in an effective way and a door to door immunization drive. A meeting was organized with adolescent girls to teach them about hygiene and nutrition important for their bodies and mental heath. The malnourished registered with the Anganwadis were visited by them to provide them with black wheat products. A Gidha performance was organized to celebrate the Poshan Pakhwada, along with counselling of the parents of SAM/MAM children with the team of Nutrition Rehabilitation Centre along with doctors of PGI.
