September 23rd, 2022
Annapoorna Trust launched the Morning Nutrition program at one of the Anganwadi centres in Bhongir district on 20th September 2022. SaiSure Health Mix and Raagi Cereals Health Mix will be provided to SAM (severely acute malnutrition) and MAM (Moderately acute malnutrition) pre-school children in all the Anganwadi centres of Bhongir district. As part of the pilot launch, 1015 Anganwadi children between the age of 3 till 6 started receiving SaiSure Health Mix and Raagi Cereals Health Mix. Each child will be receiving 5 gms of SaiSure with 10 gms of milk powder/milk & 5 gms of Raagi & 2.5 gms of Jaggery with warm water on alternate days.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines ‘severe acute malnutrition’ (SAM) as very low weight-for-height or a mid-upper arm circumference less than 115mm, or by the presence of nutritional oedema and Moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) is defined as moderate weight-for-height or mid-upper arm circumference greater or equal to 115mm and less than 125mm. Around 7% children in India are malnourished with 2% of them belonging to SAM and 5% to that of MAM. Both SAM and MAM have severe health repercussions with weakened immune systems. To tackle malnutrition, government has launched POSHAN Abhiyan programme. Aligning with this programme, Annapoorna Trust works towards meeting the nutritional needs of children at various rural hinterlands of India.