Shillong, May 31: Meghalaya has registered encouraging progress in child nutrition, with the latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6) reporting a significant decline in stunting among children under five years of age. According to the survey, the prevalence of stunting has dropped from 46.5 per cent in NFHS-5 to 36.8 per cent in NFHS-6, reflecting the impact of sustained government interventions, frontline healthcare efforts, and active community participation across the state.
The survey also highlighted positive breastfeeding practices, with 76.4 per cent of children being breastfed within one hour of birth and 97.1 per cent of infants under six months currently breastfeeding. Health officials noted that these improvements underscore the critical role played by frontline workers, healthcare providers, and communities in promoting better nutrition and childcare practices during the early stages of life.
Despite challenges posed by difficult terrain, geographic isolation, and limited access to healthcare services in remote areas, Meghalaya has strengthened its nutrition ecosystem through integrated and community-based interventions. Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs), Anganwadi Workers, and Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) have been instrumental in connecting government services with communities and ensuring the delivery of essential health and nutrition support.
The state has also enhanced systems for the early detection and management of malnutrition. Through regular Village Health and Nutrition Days (VHNDs), children are monitored for growth and screened for nutritional deficiencies. Those identified with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) and Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM) are referred to Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres for specialized care.
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Further support is provided through Home-Based Newborn Care (HBNC) and Home-Based Young Child Care (HBYC) programmes, which ensure that vulnerable children and their families receive continuous counselling, monitoring, and healthcare support at the household level.
Recognising that nutrition begins before birth, the government has expanded maternal healthcare services, promoting early antenatal registration, routine health check-ups, iron and folic acid supplementation, deworming, immunisation, and nutrition counselling. Schemes supporting institutional deliveries have also contributed to improved maternal and child health outcomes.
Anganwadi Centres continue to play a central role in the state’s nutrition strategy by providing supplementary nutrition, growth monitoring, preschool education, and health awareness services for children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers. The provision of hot cooked meals and take-home rations has further strengthened nutritional support for vulnerable families.
Officials attributed much of the progress reflected in NFHS-6 to increasing community ownership of nutrition initiatives. Women’s groups, self-help groups, village leaders, and families have actively participated in awareness campaigns, growth monitoring activities, and support systems for at-risk children. Many households have also adopted kitchen gardens and incorporated traditional nutrient-rich foods into their daily diets.
Among the state’s flagship interventions is the Chief Minister’s Mission 1000 Days, which focuses on the critical period from conception to a child’s second birthday. The programme aims to strengthen frontline worker capacity, empower mothers, provide targeted nutrition support, promote hot cooked meals with eggs, and assist children experiencing growth faltering.
While challenges remain, the findings of NFHS-6 demonstrate that Meghalaya’s sustained efforts in maternal and child nutrition are yielding positive results. The improvements provide renewed momentum in the state’s ongoing efforts to ensure that every child has the opportunity to grow, learn, and thrive in a healthy environment.
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