Poshan Weekly is a knowledge dissemination tool intended to share research, evidence, policy and programme guidelines as well as tools on Maternal and Child Nutrition with colleagues around India.
Reopening Anganwadi Services - A Gift for World Children’s Day
Dear Colleagues,
World Children’s Day on 20th November, 2020 is a day to celebrate global efforts on improving conditions for children and providing them with a better future. In this POSHAN Weekly, we present the operational guidance issued by the Ministry of Women and Child Development on 11th November, 2020 with the directive on national restoration of Anganwadi Services.
Great strides have been made in nutrition but the outbreak of COVID-19 and subsequent closure of affected services had an undeniable impact on children. Recognizing the importance of nutritional services, national and state level guidelines have been released by the government to resume operations in a safe manner.
The guidance informs states to restore essential nutrition services including supplementary nutrition, growth monitoring, counseling and ECCE services. Anganwadi Centres in non-containment areas are to re-open following all preventive safety measures including masking, handwashing, sanitation and ensuring physical distance. Pregnant women and children younger than 10 years old are recommended to visit centres only for the provision of essential services. Persons above 65 years of age or with comorbidities are advised against entering Anganwadi Centres. For more information on essential nutrition services and growth monitoring and promotion during the COVID-19 Pandemic, please see the linked resources below.
On this World Children’s Day, let us celebrate the recovery of essential nutrition services for children to ensure each and every child can reach their full potential. Join us as we celebrate this special day on 20th November. Please visit the UNICEF website to see the Six-Point Plan to Protect our Children and other activities planned for Children’s Day!
