A boon to pregnant women, lactating mothers

Anantapur: For 25-year-old Sujatha of Obuladevanagar, it was a great day as the Anganwadi centre to which she is attached has celebrated her pregnancy by performing 'Srimantham' ceremony.

It was jubilation from the day one as she is now in her sixth month of pregnancy. Her life for the next 3 years revolves round the Anganwadi centre. The Department of Women and Child Welfare engages Asha workers, who visit homes of pregnant women and monitor their health condition.

Sujatha's husband, a daily wage labourer, is unable to give a decent and special diet to his pregnant wife. But, the Department of Women 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 5,000 odd Anganwadi centres in the district and serving about 71,263 pregnant and lactating women.

Under ‘Anna Amrutha Hastham,’ the pregnant women are served nutritious food up to sixth month and also iron tablets. Similarly, lactating mothers are served nutritious diet and milk every day to fight anaemia. Suhashini, 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 Suhashini and her husband, it was a great support as medical and nutritional care is provided by the Anganwadi centre under the supervision of the medical officer.

Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) Krishna Kumari, speaking to The Hans India, has stated that all medical and health details of pregnant women are recorded online.

The doctor can examine her health report and give treatment with an integrated approach. Krishna Kumari says that the Anganwadi centres are playing a crucial role in preventing mother and child deaths. 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 delivery of the child drops the mother and child from the hospital to her home in her native village. While the Anganwadi centres are known to be centres for nursery children, the centres also cater to pregnant and lactating women.

An Anganwadi centre caters to 1,000 women population and each village has 5 centres. In tribal Thandas, 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 up to 3 years and 95,676 lactating women from 3 years to 6 years post lactating period. A meal consists of rice, dal, oil, vegetables and 16 eggs every month.

By Ravi P Benjamin