The Indian govt. seems to have been becoming serious when it comes to the future of our next generation. The UNICEF and the Indian government have teamed up to conduct the first ever national survey to measure nutrition levels of children in the country.
As per the survey, data is being collected to quantify deficiencies of micro nutrients, vitamin and mineral as well as worm infestation among children.
According to UNICEF, the findings of the exercise will start trickling in early next year.
A total of 1,20,000 children in the age group of 0-19 years are being surveyed across the country through systematic random sampling as part of the exercise. The survey has been completed in seven states and will be concluded in another five states by the end of this year, it said.
All the states of the country are expected to be covered by the end of 2017.
Well know Indian Nutritionist & Weight Loss Expert Shubi Husain says, “Nutrition is a vitally important aspect in people’s lifestyle, and directly affects our health. The survey results carried out by our govt. will be used in developing, monitoring and improving the health and nutrition aspects, policies and services for children across India.”
Husain further said, “These surveys collect detailed information on food and nutrient intake and nutritional status of children. This information is needed to monitor food and nutrition policies, guidelines, food safety and for dietary modelling i.e. enabling risk assessment and the development of regulations relating to food composition such as mandatory fortifications etc.”
Shubi Husain was highly appreciative of the govt’s initiative and went on to add that it was the right time that the government has thought about India’s future generations health and well being.
UNICEF’s Nutrition Specialist Jee Hyun Rah also explained how lack of data leads to gaps in government policies which can be addressed through this comprehensive ‘National Nutrition Survey’.
“In terms of nutritional aspect, there is just one intervention from the Government of India in order to fight anaemia, which is by providing folic acid and iron supplements.
“But anaemia is caused not merely because of iron deficiency, but also due to a whole bunch of nutritional deficiencies like Vitamin A, folic acid, zinc and even protein deficiency. Apart from this, there is a whole spectrum of infection as well as worm infestation,” Rah said.
“The reason why there is no intervention for these multiple deficiencies is that we do not know where the population stands in terms of mineral and vitamin requirements,” the official said.
UNICEF said indicators for over-nutrition (which causes obesity and diabetes) are also being calculated through body composition and fat distribution as part of the study.
Importantly, association between lack of nourishment and its impact on school readiness, cognitive development and educational outcomes will also be determined, it said.
The global body said while surveys of this nature carried out at state levels in India have so far only studied measurements and proportions of human body like height, weight and mid-upper arm circumference, this time, blood, urine and stool samples are being collected as well.
