Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM), one of the toughest problems facing children, is an increasing concern today. Due to the economic downturn attributable to Covid-19 in India and much of the world, the country’s malnutrition levels are certain to rise. To counter this, Hexagon Nutrition, in association with the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), brought together experts to formulate strategies in these unprecedented times, via a webinar, to prevent and control SAM across the nation. According to the Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey (2016-18), conducted by UNICEF and the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW), the prevalence of severe acute malnutrition among children is 4.9 per cent. This means that one in every 20 children in India under five years of age suffers from SAM. In number terms, this accounts for over six million children affected by SAM, perhaps the highest such number in the world. This may be a conservative estimate, as the Indian Academy of Paediatrics has put the number close to eight million. “The ongoing Covid-19 crisis has affected individuals from all walks of life,” said Arun Mishra, head, global nutrition regulatory affairs, Unilever & co-chairman, Food Processing Council, ASSOCHAM, in his opening address. “And it continues to affect us. The role of nutrition during this crisis is critically important for all age groups.” Guidelines to follow Explains Naveen Jain, former MD, National Health Mission (NHM), government of Rajasthan: “Energy-dense nutrition supplement (EDNS), along with the Malnutrition Treatment Centre (MTC), can make a huge difference in each state and district to eradicate SAM.” An objective-based Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) pilot in Rajasthan, in association with GAIN, UNICEF, ACF and EDNF, has given an evidence-based guiding direction to manage SAM for future research purposes. Recent studies have shown that 85 per cent of SAM cases can be treated through nutrition counselling and behavioural change techniques, whereas the rest, 15 per cent with complicated medical cases or co-morbidities, might need deeper interventions, added Indira Mallo, commissioner, Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS), government of Maharashtra.
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Over 6 million children are affected by SAM in India
