Andhra Pradesh Among Top 3 States Implementing Poshan Abhiyaan

NEW DELHI/AMARAVATI: Andhra Pradesh has been ranked among the top three states along with Maharashtra (Number 1) and Gujarat (Number 3)  in terms of the overall implementation of the Centre's Poshan Abhiyaan, according to a Niti Aayog report.

The report titled 'Preserving Progress on Nutrition in India: Poshan Abhiyan in Pandemic Times' further said that 12 out of 19 large states had an implementation score of over 70 per cent.

It pointed out that only 17 states and UTs had more than 75 per cent of children 12-23 months of age who were fully immunised, while 11 states and UTs had less than 25 per cent fully immunised children.

The report stressed the need of accelerating the use of funds released for Poshan Abhiyaan and ensuring an adequate number of health facilities and supplies.

Andhra Pradesh stands first among the states that have made 100% recruitment of human resources required for the implementation of Poshan Abhiyan during Covid. This was possible after joint project coordinator positions were filled at 100 percent.

AP stands at the top in the distribution of mobile phones to Anganwadi workers.

AP has also distributed 100% of children's growth monitoring devices.

Staff training and capacity building at the state level has also been implemented at 100 percent.

► While assessing health-related services, infrastructure and human resources, Andhra Pradesh scored the highest in community health centers, services for children and infants, and recruitment of ANMs.

► In terms of infrastructure at the state level, community health centres, and health and wellness centers are functioning at 100% in Andhra Pradesh. In this regard, AP is at the top among the 13 big states of the country.

► AP Government has also distributed special supplementary nutrition,conducted home visits, virtual counseling, and conducted virtual classes for children.

► During the Covid pandemic, from October 2019 to the second quarter of 2020, supplementary nutritional food was distributed to children aged six months to six years in AP at 113 percent and by the third quarter of 2020 it was 115 percent. By the fourth quarter, it increased to 119 percent.

►From October 2019 to the second quarter of 2020, the distribution of supplementary nutritional food to pregnant and lactating mothers was 108 percent, while it was 111 percent in the third quarter of 2020 and the same level was distributed in the fourth quarter of 2020.

► From October 2019 to the second quarter of 2020, institutional adoption increased from 90 percent in AP to 94 percent in the third quarter of 2020 and 100 percent in the fourth quarter of 2020.

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