With reference to above, we would like to draw your attention on the incident of malnutrition death of two years child Prem in Madhya Pradesh state capital, Bhopal. The first hand analysis of the causes of child death reveals that the poor position of existing ICDS and heath services are responsible such incidence of malnutrition deaths.
In last four year, 612 infant had died in Bhopal district. Most alarmingly, 16 infants have perished in Bhopal in the month of April 2009 only.
Sukhi Savania is one among the displaced slums of Bhopal. 300 families have been displaced three years back in 2004 to railway station. New settlement at Suhki Savania is 15 kilometers away from their working place. As a result, a large amount of their income has been spent to travel expenses to reach out to their work. It is also very difficult to meet out their daily needs of food, health, education, and medical aid in lack of proper infrastructure and services in Sukhi Savenia.
As a result maternal and child health seems such neglected in the displaced slum. The Anganwadi centre is not functioning here in Sukhi Sevania. The position of Anganwadi worker is lying vacant since last four months resulted in the breakdown in the process of growth monitoring of children. Also, no supplementary nutritional food had been distributed to any beneficiaries since past four months. Even heavy corruption has been exposed recently in the implementation of Janani Sahyogi Scheme of Sate government to safeguard maternal health.
Though Bhopal is one of districts selected under IMNCI program, the status of child health is very pitiable here. Two more children from there are identified as severely malnourished. There were left out of the institutional services. In survey conducted by voluntary organization, large number of children in Rahul Nagar, Jatkhedi and Maln Basti found malnourished. But in such a tragic situation in spite of enhancing child health services, the existing Nutrition Rehabilitation Centre (NRC) at District Hospital had been close down.
In view of such catastrophic situation, we request you look into the matter on priority to ensure the safe maternal and child health to prevent mortality and to ensure the implementation services including
1. To ensure the accountability of the officers of ICDS and Health Department at higher level to guarantee quality services and investigate the matter by appointing an independent commission of enquiry;
2. To ensure regular availability of nutritious food with other five services in Anganwadi Centers;
3. To ensure the availability of safe drinking water in schools and Angawadi Centers;
4. To immediately ensure the regular health check up of children and women in the village;
5. To provide the families with severely malnourished child with Antyodaya Anna Yajana and provide 35 kilograms of subsidized rice and wheat to all poor families as per the order of the Supreme Court of India;
6. To provide hot cooked meal based on locally produced and procured food in Angawadi Centers as per age and dietary requirement of the beneficiaries;
7. To provide special food for the children under age of two along with the promotion to breastfeeding practices;
8. To ensure proper implementation of immunization services and growth monitoring of children and
9. To ensure proper and timely Ante-Natal and Post Natal care of pregnant women and lactating mothers.
We are looking forward to positive response and immediate action on this situation.
Yours sincerely,
Cc:
Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh
Right to Food Campaign Madhya Pradesh Support Group
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
