Poshan Tracking in the State Optimized Through AIIMS-R's Intensive Training Programs

Raipur: The State Center of Excellence for Nutrition Interventions (SCoEN) at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences has reached a significant milestone by enhancing the measurement efficiency of the Poshan Tracker app from 16% to 95% within a year. Currently, the Center is consistently monitoring all children affected by malnutrition with support from central and state agencies, as well as UNICEF. This achievement is the result of intensive training programs provided to Anganwadi workers and district nutrition coordinators across various districts.

The center has been working under the department of pediatrics in AIIMS and has achieved significant success through continuous telemonitoring and telementoring. In 2023, the center completed tele-monitoring of 106 Nutrition Rehabilitation Centers (NRCS) and tele-mentoring Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) of counsellors from 57 state government-run health facilities across the state.

The district-level project team supported the monitoring of more than 1100 Anganwadi centers and supported the Department of Women and Child Development in training more than 22,000 Anganwadi workers on the Poshan Tracker and Community Based Management of Severe Acute Malnutrition (CSAM).

According to Prof. Anil Kumar Goel, Program Director, measuring efficiency (for 22.5 lakh children) in the Poshan Tracker improved from 16% in January 2023 to 95% in December 2023. The team could also support the enrolment of more than 14,000 children with severe acute malnutrition and moderate acute malnutrition in the CSAM program, which started with 208 enrolments in January 2023.

To discuss further strategy to bring down the number of children suffering from malnutrition in the state, Lt Gen Ashok Jindal (Retd), Executive Director and William Hanlon Jr., Chief (In-Charge) of UNICEF Chhattisgarh, discussed further action plans in a joint meeting. Lt Gen Jindal said it is a matter of pride that AIIMS Raipur is mentoring and operationalizing such a large outreach program covering the entire State indicating our commitment to the tribal population of Chhattisgarh.

It was decided that the holistic model of SCoEN and its functioning will be disseminated with the ministry and with other states attempting to curtail malnutrition. It is envisioned to organize a national-level conference to garner enthusiasm from stakeholders and representatives across all states of the country.

William also visited the IYCF Skill Lab and Severe Acute Malnutrition Referral and Advance Treatment of SCoEN, meant for the management of severely complicated SAM children, where he interacted with the team members and observed the work first-hand.

The meeting is also graced by Prof. Goel, Dr. Aparna Deshpande, Nutrition Specialist, UNICEF, and Dr. Mahendra Prajapati, Nutrition Officer, UNICEF.