Article courtesy: Press Information Bureau
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has come up with a PIB release on 29th July 2011 informing about its decision to expand the role of Village Health & Sanitation Committee (VHSC) so as to include 'nutrition' within its ambit with the active participation of Anganwadi Workers, Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANMs) and Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHAs). The Committee henceforth will be named as Village Health, Sanitation and Nutrition Committee (VHSNC). In addition to the defined activities of VHSC as per National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) framework of implementation, VHSNC will also engage with and monitor status, issues and action pertaining to nutrition.
The broadened mandate of VHSNC will include the following activities in addition to the existing mandate of VHSC -
- Create awareness about nutritional issues and significance of nutrition as an important determinant of health.
- Carry out survey on nutritional status and nutritional deficiencies in the village especially among women and children.
- Identify locally available food stuffs of high nutrient value as well as disseminate and promote best practices (traditional wisdom) congruent with local culture, capabilities and physical environment through a process of community consultation.