A recent series published in the Lancet Global Health Journal, focused on Child and Adolescent Healthcare Systems of the World, due attention was given to India’s healthcare setup. The findings outline the varied progress in different nations with a specific focus on India’s National Health Mission (NHM), Mid-Day Meal Scheme, Anemia Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, and other initiatives.
Gains and Challenges in Child Health
The series presented insightful data that revealed over 8.62 million deaths among children and adolescents happened between 28 weeks of gestation and 20 years of age in 2019. Stillbirths and neonatal deaths accounted for over half of these deaths. A considerable proportion of the remaining deaths occurred in children aged between one month and five years.
Although some advancements have contributed to a decrease in child mortality, this progression is not unanimous, and vast inequities persist. Many children and adolescents continue to struggle due to insufficiently deployed low-cost interventions.
The Pandemic’s Impact on Child Health
The global Covid-19 pandemic has exposed the devastating consequences of insufficient care and education for children. Instances of this can be seen in how health and social systems struggled to adequately address the emerging needs of children and families. The problems surfaced during the pandemic serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need for transformative measures in the global child and adolescent health agenda.
Reimagining Service Delivery
The Lancet series stressed the necessity of a holistic approach to enhance child health conditions rather than offering piecemeal solutions centered around specific age groups. This approach encompasses comprehensive care which integrates nutrition, preventive health, education, economic and community support across all age groups from preconception until the age of 20.
Recommendations for Improvements
The authors emphasize the importance of a family-centric approach, particularly during pregnancy and throughout the child’s formative years. Moreover, the study suggests scaling-up evidence-based interventions for children under five years. It highlights the need for interventions that address the transitional period from childhood to adolescence, focusing on mental health, unintentional injuries, non-communicable diseases, and neglected tropical diseases.
India’s Child Health Initiatives
In response to child and adolescent health concerns, India has established several initiatives like the National Health Mission (NHM), Mid-Day Meal Scheme, Anemia Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, and PM Poshan. Other programs include the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), and the Integrated Child Development Scheme.
National Nutrition Mission (NNM) Objectives
The Ministry of Women and Child Development, GoI, launched the flagship program, National Nutrition Mission (POSHAN Abhiyaan). This program ensures convergence with various schemes such as Anganwadi services, National Health Mission, Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, Swachh-Bharat Mission, etc.
The primary goals of NNM are to improve the nutritional status of children aged 0-6 years, adolescent girls, pregnant women, and lactating mothers within three years, starting from 2017-18. However, it does not include provisions related to the consumption of millets, unpolished rice, coarse cereals, and eggs.