Green signal to launch of four more ‘Vatsalya’ units in Panchmahals

The project is now being extended to lactating and pregnant women in different tribal areas of the district. The department had initially proposed to start 17 centres.

However,now four more centres have been sanctioned in the first phase.

“We are initially focusing on mothers and children in grade III and IV. This group has the highest level of malnutrition. Our basic aim is to bring them to grade I and II. Malnutrition is a major problem in this region of the state,” said Prakash Vaghela,Chief District Health Officer (CDHO),Panchmahals district.

The centres,which are likely to start in the next two months,will have a nutrition officer who would be responsible to keep a check on the health of the women and the children. “Apart from the food,we are also giving the women at the centre Rs 50 to compensate against the loss of their daily wages. The nutrition officer will also talk to them about what to cook and how to cook which can help them maintain a high nutrition level,” said Vaghela.

Each centre will be given a fund of Rs 11 lakh per annum from the Health department. “Following this,we hope to open even more centres in collaboration with the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) department,” said Vaghela.