Lok Sabha Question No. 1033 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-18
Subject: Decline in Health Outreach Services due to COVID-19
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Rahul Ramesh Shewale

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1033

TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.09.2020

## DECLINE IN HEALTH OUTREACH SERVICES DUE TO COVID-19

## 1033. SHRI RAHUL RAMESH SHEWALE:

Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  taken  cognizance  of  the  UNICEF's  report  which  has warned that over three lakh children could lose their lives over the next six months due to decline  in  health  outreach  services  and  increase  in  child  wasting  due  to  COVID-19 Pandemic;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (c) whether the Government has conducted any study to assess the impact of disruption in health  outreach  services  during  COVID-19  induced  lockdown  on  malnutrition  status across the country;
- (d) if so, the details and outcome thereof, State/UT-wise and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (e) the  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  address  the  issue  of  access  to nutrition in each State of the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a) to (e):         The Government has been regularly reviewing the situation in consultation with States/UTs.  In  order  to  improve  the  nutritional  status  of  Women  and  Children,    Ministry  of Women and Child Development is implementing Supplementary Nutrition Programme under Anganwadi Services and Scheme for Adolescent Girls under the Umbrella Integrated Child Development  Services  (ICDS)  Scheme  to  children  (6  months  to  6  years),  Pregnant  Women, Lactating Mothers and out-of-school Adolescent Girls (11-14 years).  As per the directions issued by Ministry of Home Affairs, under Disaster Management Act, 2005,  all the Anganwadi Centres across the country were closed to limit the impact of COVID-19.  However, to ensure continuous nutritional  support  to  Anganwadi  beneficiaries,  Anganwadi  Workers  and  Helpers  have  been distributing  supplementary Nutrition  at  the doorsteps  of  the beneficiaries. Further,  this  Ministry has  issued  necessary  directions  to  the  States/UTs  to  ensure  distribution  of  food  items  and nutrition  support  by  Anganwadi  workers,  once  in  15  days,  at  the  doorstep  of  beneficiaries.  In addition, Anganwadi Workers and Anganwadi Helpers have been assisting the local administration in community surveillance, creating awareness or other works assigned to them from time to time.

Ministry  of  Health  and  Family  Welfare  issued  the  guidance  note  on  'Provision  of Reproductive,  Maternal,  Newborn,  Child,  Adolescent  Health  Plus  Nutrition  (RMNCAH+N) services during & post COVID-19 Pandemic'  with States and UTs which states that campaign mode services such as - mass Vitamin a prophylaxis, campaigns for Intensified Diarrhea Control Fortnight (IDCF), National Deworming Day (NDD) and Anemia  can be provided on an alternative mechanism like through home delivery of essential services & commodities etc. based on local situations.  The continuation of outreach services through modified VHSNDs and Home visits by health workers was recommended in area beyond buffer zone and green zone. The activities in the  containment  and  buffer  zone  were  recommended  through  the  routine  visits  of  COVID workers.   Essential medicine like IFA, ORS, calcium and Zinc are home delivered in containment zones. Specific guidance notes on the provision of the outreach services with all States and UTs to  ensure  continuity  of  essential  outreach  services  has  been  issued  and  Webinars  on implementation of outreach services related to Anemia, Nutrition Rehabilitation Centers (NRCs), Special Newborn Care Units (SNCUs), Diarrhoea prevention, NDD and IYCF practices etc have been organized.

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