Nutrition Month: Poshan Maah starts with key focus on women and children's health

With the focus on inculcating good nutrition habits and positive behaviors that help pregnant women, lactating mothers and adolescent girls combat malnutrition, the Ministry of Women and Child Development is celebrating the 5th Rashtriya Poshan Maah 2022 from 1st to 30th September 2022.

The objective this year is to trigger Poshan Maah with key focus on “Mahila aur Swasthya '' and “Bacha aur Shiksha”. To ensure speedy and intensive outreach, the entire month has been subdivided into weekly themes for focused and assimilated approach towards improving holistic nutrition.

The theme for the first week of September Nutrition month is plantation activity as “Poshan Vatika”.

To highlight its importance and raise awareness regarding it, the health ministry tweeted: "This #RashtriyaPoshanMaah, let's strive to promote the benefits of healthy nutrition for healthy life".

This #RashtriyaPoshanMaah, let's strive to promote the benefits of healthy nutrition for healthy life. pic.twitter.com/AutAoB8N3Z

— Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) September 1, 2022

Plantation activity will include planting of saplings of nutritious fruit trees, local vegetables and medicinal plants and herbs in the spaces available at anganwadis, school premises, gram panchayats and other places.

The nutritional month campaign aims to convert 'Jan Andolan' into 'Jan Bhagidari' to fulfill PM’s vision of a Suposhit Bharat. It intends to increase nutritional awareness and responsiveness among mothers of young children, adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating women, family members, health care providers about vital nutrition behaviours.

Launched with a noble and holistic goal, the Poshan Maah activities related to nutrition awareness will be carried out across all the States/UTs right upto the grass root levels.

A special drive for height and weight measurement for children (under 6 years of age) during the Poshan Maah will also be conducted.

Slogan writing and recipe competitions will be organized to highlight the locally available nutritious food for pregnant women and spread the message of holistic nutrition throughout the month to ensure a healthier future for women and children.