The Health and Family Welfare Ministry of India has taken a significant step by constituting a technical expert group to scrutinize the concerning results revealed by the National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5). This move underscores the government’s dedication to addressing key health challenges, such as malnutrition and anemia, identified in the survey.
Formation of Technical Expert Group
To delve into the adverse findings of the NFHS-5, the Ministry has assembled a technical committee comprising experts in medicine and nutrition. This committee is led by Joint Secretary Preeti Pant, who brings her expertise to the forefront of this initiative. The group’s composition extends to include State programme officers from three Indian states: Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Karnataka. These members bring a regional perspective to the table, ensuring that the diversity of health issues across different geographies is considered.
The primary objective of this expert group is to thoroughly analyze the data from the NFHS-5. Their analysis will focus on critical health indicators such as anemia prevalence, nutritional status, the frequency of cesarean sections (C-sections), and the incidence of stunting among children. Based on their findings, the group is expected to recommend evidence-based policies and actionable strategies to tackle these health concerns.
Despite the importance of their mission, the technical expert group has yet to convene for its first meeting. The date for this initial gathering remains undecided, but once the meetings commence, they are expected to be held regularly. The outcomes of these discussions and the subsequent recommendations are highly anticipated.
Insights from National Family Health Survey-5
The NFHS-5 has been a crucial source of data, shedding light on various aspects of India’s demographic and health profile. The factsheet from the survey’s first phase was disclosed to the public in December 2020, encompassing a wide array of indicators. A total of 22 States and Union Territories were included in this phase, with the survey providing insights into 131 distinct indicators. These indicators span across several domains such as family welfare, population dynamics, nutrition, reproductive health, and child health, offering a comprehensive overview of the current situation.
The NFHS-5 is not the first of its kind; it follows four preceding rounds of surveys that were conducted in the years 1992-93, 1998-99, 2005-06, and 2015-16. Each round has contributed to building a rich repository of data over time. The International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS) in Mumbai has been entrusted with the responsibility of conducting all rounds of the NFHS, ensuring consistency and reliability in the methodology and data collection processes.
This latest round of the survey has been instrumental in identifying areas where progress has been made, as well as highlighting those where improvements are urgently needed. With the establishment of the technical expert group, there is a clear pathway towards addressing the latter. The group’s findings and recommendations will play a pivotal role in shaping future health policies and interventions, with the ultimate goal of improving the health and well-being of India’s population.
