Shrimati Malati Dahanukar Trust (SMDT) in collaboration with FMCH (Foundation for Maternal and Child Health) – Mumbai initiated a malnutrition prevention centre in its dispensary at Tilaknagar, Shrirampur on 7th January 2013. Speaking on the occasion, Mrs. Shivani Dahanukar – trustee, SMDT said that “Malnutrition is a root cause of lower intellectual and immunity development in these rural children. It affects their performance in school as well as jobs and society in later life”.

SMDT is a 63 year old NGO working in education, malnutrition, animal welfare, environmental conservation and livelihood empowerment in Shrirampur taluka of Ahmednagar. FMCH has been working in the Dhobi Ghat region of Mumbai for the past 6 years where it is addressing malnutrition for over 1000 children from the community.

From their experience of working internationally, FMCH has charted out protocols to address severe malnutrition in a methodical and sustained way. “A SAM child is 9 times more prone to a fatal diarrhea than a normal child, we should do all that we can do get these children out of SAM” maintained Dr. Rupal, Director – Nutrition with FMCH.

A malnutrition assessment camp was conducted in Tilakanagar by FMCH in October 2012 to understand the status of malnutrition in Tilaknagar and its surrounding villages. From the 348 children assessed during the two day camp, it was observed that overall approx. 48% of children were stunted and 16.25% of children below 6 years of age suffered from global acute malnutrition (GAM). It was also noted that overall , 22 % of children between the age group of 0 to 2 years were found to be GAM and 40 % of children between 0 to 2 years were Stunted. It was observed that mothers were very young. During the focus group interactions it was discovered that girls were married between 16-18 years of age.

The clinic aims to not only serve as a medical facility, but mainly as a nutritional counseling centre. Along with medical care for the severe acute malnourished (SAM) and moderate acute malnutrition (MAM), the clinic will educate the parents on good parenting, do’s and don’ts of a nutritional diet and also conduct regular cooking demo’s to demonstrate healthy yet tasty foods from locally available resources. Nutri-rich laddoos as well as chikkis prepared in the community kitchen run by SMDT will be distributed to the pregnant mothers as well as malnourished children to meet their needs of macro and micro-nutrients.