Anganwadis doing yeoman service

​Anantapur: For 30-year-old Shanthi of Obuladevanagar, it was a great day as the Anganwadi centre she is attached to has celebrated her pregnancy by performing Srimantham ceremony. It was really touching for her pregnancy to be celebrated by other women members of the Anganwadi centre.

From the day her pregnancy was detected by her co-women members and the Anganwadi worker under whose care she is. It was jubiliation from the day one as she is now in her third month of pregnancy. Her life for the next 3 years revolves around the Anganwadi centre.

Her husband, a daily wage labourer although is unable to give a decent and special diet to his pregnant wife, the Department of Woman and Child Welfare of the state government is now taking care of her health and special diet through the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) which is running 5000 odd Anganwadi centres in the district and serving about 71,263 pregnant and lactating women in the district.

Up to 6th month, the pregnant women are served nutritious food and also iron tablets. From 7th month onwards, she is supplied a take home nutritious food to strengthen her and support her right from pregnancy stage to child delivery and post delivery for the next 3 years.

Subhashini, another pregnant woman is also delighted at the Srimantham ceremony performed in the presence of other pregnant and lactating women members amidst a festive atmosphere. For women like Subhashini and her husband it was a great support as medical and nutritional care is totally provided by the Anganwadi centre under the close supervision of the government medical officer.

Child Development Project Officer Krishna Kumari Krishna Kumari speaking to The Hans India stated that all medical and health details of every pregnant woman is recorded online including her medical history so that at any given point of time, the doctor can access her health report and give treatment with an integrated approach.

Kumari says that the Anganwadi centres are playing a crucial role in preventing mother and child deaths and also actively monitoring the health status of pregnant women. Nutrition and immunization programmes are greatly contributing to neutralise mother and children deaths. The constant monitoring of pregnant women is eventually guaranteeing institutional deliveries.

District Child Protection Officer D Subramanyam told The Hans India that the Mother and Child Express, soon after the delivery, drops the mother and child from the hospital to her home in her native village. When the pregnant woman experiences delivery pain just a phone call to 108 ensures it is at the door step of the woman in 20 minutes.

While the Anganwadi centres are known to be centres for nursery children, the centres also cater to pregnant and lactating women. In fact, they are a safe haven for mother and children and are the most happening places. An Anganwadi centre caters to 1,000 women population and each village has about 5 centres. Tribal Tandas and even hamlets having around 100 women population, a mini centre is operated.

The centres cater to 1.49 lakh women, who are in their 6th month of pregnancy to 3 years and 95,676 lactating women from 3 years to 6 years post lactating period. A hot meal consists of rice, dal, oil, vegetables and 16 eggs every month.