First 1000 Days programme for infants in Tribal Area

The 1,000 days between a woman’s pregnancy (270 days) and her child’s 2nd birthday (730 days) are most critical and crucial period of the child’s life. The 9 months of pregnancy and the first two years of life provide the base for a child’s mental growth takes place during this critical period of the human life cycle. Malnutrition and disease during this period can play havoc and may lead to impairment of physical and mental growth. During pregnancy, under-nutrition can have a devastating impact on the healthy growth and development of a child. Babies who are malnourished in the womb have a higher risk of dying at infancy and are more likely to face lifelong cognitive and physical deficits and chronic health problems. For children under the age of two, under nutrition can be life threatening. It can weaken a child’s immune system and make her more susceptible to dying from common illnesses such a pneumonia, diarrhea etc.

Objective

The ICDS, the world’s largest programme for child nutrition and pre-school education, has a presence in every hamlet, its mammoth structure and potential holding much promise. The system though needs to be revitalized from being a ‘supplementary nutrition programme’ to achieving its cherished goal of being a child health, nutrition and development programme.

Outcomes

 1. Early initiation of breastfeeding within one hour of birth.

2. Exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life.

3. Timely introduction of complementary foods at six months.

4. Age-appropriate, energy and nutrient-dense complementary foods for children 6- 24 months of age with continued breastfeeding.

5. Safe handling of complementary foods and hygienic complementary feeding practices.

6. Full immunization and vi-annual vitamin A supplementation with de-worming.

7. Frequent feeding and breastfeeding during and after illness, including oral rehydration therapy zinc supplementation for children with diarrhea.

8. Timely and quality therapeutic feeding and care for children with severe acute malnutrition.

Strategies

1. Obtain baseline information to Monitor and Assess Effectiveness of Intervention

2. IEC BCC Campaign to increase Awareness among people.

3. Training

4. Enhance Referral Services

5. Formation Micro RRT (Rapid Response Team) in each colony, monitored by AW worker

6. Quarterly review

7. Evaluation