Good nutrition has the power to empower generations: Dr Khyatee
The greatest treasure of a nation lies in it’s people and their health quotient — especially women and children —We are Celebrating 75 years of independence, but a majority of our people in the nation do not get the required diet to meet their nutritional needs, which is an alarming sign towards the Nutritional Quotient of the nation, shares Dr. Khyatee
Ex Senior Research Officer, AIIMS, DELHI
HOD, DEPARTMENT OF PHYSIOTHERAPY, NAVIN HOSPITAL
MOTHER AND CHILD CARE EXPERT, NUTRITION EXPERT
In a Health Talk “Ghar- Ghar Sehat” organised at Salaam Namaste Community Radio, in association with Shradha Sewa Samiti and Pratyash Medi Care, she shared that “A child’s nutritional status is directly linked to their mother”.
Poor nutrition among pregnant women affects the nutritional status of the child and has a greater chance to affect future generations. Undernourished children are at risk of under-performing in studies and have limited job prospects.
There is acute need of tackling malnutrition among children and women. Usually, pregnant women, infants, preschool going and school going children are targeted by various welfare measures conducted by the government. Calories, proteins and micronutrients like iron, vitamin A and zinc can be supplemented.
Strategies to prevent malnutrition and improve nutrition
Nutritional planning
Direct nutrition and health interventions
There are two major approaches in addressing malnutrition.
Nutritional planning involves formulation of a nutrition policy and overall long term planning to improve production and supplies of food, ensure its equitable distribution and programs to increase the purchasing power of people. To help increasing the capacity of people to buy nutritious food in adequate quantity.
Direct nutrition and health interventions includes Improved health care system
Infections like malaria, measles and diarrhea are prevalent in our society and they precipitate acute malnutrition among children and infants. A good health care system that provides immunization, oral rehydration, periodic deworming, early diagnosis and proper treatment of common illnesses can go a long way in preventing malnutrition in the society.
Nutrition education means People can be educated on
The nutritional quality of common foods
,Importance and nutritional quality of various locally available and culturally accepted low cost foods
Importance of exclusive breastfeeding for six months and continuing to breast feed up to two years or beyond.
Importance of feeding children and adults during illness
Importance and advantages of growing a kitchen garden
Importance of immunizing their children and following proper sanitation in their day to day life.
Early detection of malnutrition and intervention
A well recorded growth chart can detect malnutrition very early. Velocity of growth is more important than the actual weight at a given time
If growth of the child is slowed or is arrested as shown by flat curve on the growth card, physician should be alerted and any hidden infection or any reason for nutritional deficiency must be evaluated and taken care of.
If growth chart is not maintained, anthropometric indices like, weight, height mid arm circumference, and chest circumference etc. can be measured and used for evaluation of nutrition.
