Unit - - Nutrition intervention programmes and policies Ø assist in providing massive doses of vitamin A, ORS and iron tablets. Ø food supplementation to preschool children between the age of six months and six years, pregnant and lactating mothers and adolescent girls. The Anganwadi workers are expected to survey all families in the community and identify pregnant, lactating women and preschool children, monitor the growth of children and provide food supplement to the three groups for days in a year. ICDS guidelines specify that monthly weighing of children should be done in the crucial - months age group.
Mother and Child Protection card (MCP card) was introduced for supplementary feeding and psychosocial development through early stimulation and education. The objectives also include supplementary feeding for pregnant and lactating women and nutrition education to ensure better child care and nutrition. The nutrition components of ICDS aims to provide the following services: Ø nutrition education to mothers for improving dietary intake and dietary diversity. Ø nutrition education regarding appropriate infant and young child feeding practices.
Ø growth monitoring and detection of growth faltering. - - Nutrition intervention programmes and policies . . Midday meal programme (MDMP) The midday meal programme (MDMP) is also known as school lunch programme.
This programme has been in operation since throughout the country. In formulating midday meals for school children, the following broad principles should be kept in mind: functionaries of National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and ICDS from 1st April to progressively replace the earlier JacchhaBacchha card . The new MCP card is increasingly viewed as a critical tool for upkeeping maternal and child health in the updated coverage of both ICDS and NRHM. Fig .
: Mother and Child Protection card (MCP card) - - Nutrition intervention programmes and policies Objectives of the school feeding programme are to : Ø provide food for undernourished children and to improve the nutritional status and monitor it. Ø The meal should be a supplement and not a substitute to the home diet.