Comprehensive Approach to Combat Malnutrition in Uttar Pradesh
The Uttar Pradesh government has initiated a strategic and phased action plan called Sambhav Abhiyan 5.0, aimed at eradicating malnutrition among mothers and children. This initiative, titled “Six Months, Seven Times,” is designed to ensure that every child and mother receives the necessary support for healthy growth and development.
The campaign spans from July to September and is structured into three thematic months. In July, the focus is on maternal nutrition, ensuring that pregnant and nursing mothers have access to essential nutrients like iron-folic acid, regular health check-ups, and nutritious food. August emphasizes newborn care, promoting breastfeeding awareness, and implementing best practices for infants up to six months of age. Finally, September is dedicated to complementary feeding, where parents are educated on when and how to introduce solid foods to their infants.
One of the core strategies of this campaign is to provide nutritional assessments and health check-ups at seven critical intervals for infants aged 0–6 months. This proactive approach allows for the early detection of severely malnourished children, who can then be referred to nutrition rehabilitation centers or receive community-based treatment.
On July 15, a statewide anti-stunting drive was launched under Sambhav Abhiyan, targeting 100 Anganwadi centers in each of the 75 districts with the highest reported cases of stunting. Children aged 0–5 are being systematically screened for stunting, undernutrition, and other developmental issues. So far, 9.8 lakh children have been assessed across 7,500 identified Anganwadi centers, with each center monitored by a dedicated nodal officer to ensure transparency and quality of care.
A significant strength of the campaign lies in its real-time data monitoring system, which uses mobile apps to track progress. This enables seamless coordination between the Health and Women Welfare Departments. Monitoring has been institutionalized from the village to the district level, with tools such as the Nutrition Mission Room supporting data analysis and enabling timely decision-making.
Over 60,000 women’s self-help groups are actively involved in distributing nutrition across the state. Additionally, community engagement is being strengthened through initiatives like Nutrition Fortnight, Mother Committees, and community meetings. These efforts aim to create a supportive environment for mothers and children.
Several districts, including Shravasti, Varanasi, Unnao, Farrukhabad, and Chandauli, have shown remarkable improvements. Anganwadi workers in these areas have gone beyond their traditional roles, becoming agents of social change. Their contributions during Sambhav Abhiyan 4.0 were recognized by the state government.
These initiatives have led to notable improvements: child stunting has decreased by 6.5%, underweight cases by 7.5%, and anaemia among pregnant women by 5.2%. Institutional deliveries now exceed 84%. Under the Supplementary Nutrition Scheme, over 2.12 crore children and mothers have benefited across the state.
