NUTRITIONAL REHABILITATION CENTRE (NRC)

Childhood undernutrition is an important public health and development challenge in India. Undernourished children have a significantly higher risk of mortality and morbidity. Besides increasing the risk of death and disease, undernutrition also leads to growth retardation and impaired psychosocial and cognitive development. Children with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) have a nine times higher risk of dying than well-nourished children. With appropriate nutritional and clinical management, many deaths due to severe wasting can be prevented. Besides increasing the risk of mortality, under-nutrition leads to growth retardation and impaired psycho-social and cognitive development. This further impacts education attainment. The degree of cognitive impairment is directly related to the severity of stunting and Iron Deficiency Anaemia. Without treatment, children who are affected by moderate or severe acute malnutrition during the critical stage of life between conception and age 2, if not provided with timely and quality care, will find it difficult to achieve their full potential.

For Facility-based management eight Nutrition Rehabilitation Centers have been set up at:

  1. IGMC, Shimla

  2. Dr. RPGMC, Tanda

  3. Dr. RKGMC, Hamirpur

  4. Pt. JLNGMC, Chamba

  5. Sh. LBSGMC, Nerchowk Mandi

  6. Dr.YSPGMC, Nahan at Sirmour

  7. RH Una

  8. ZH Mandi

Objective:

  • To provide institutional care for children with acute malnutrition.

  • To promote physical, mental & social growth of children with acute malnutrition.

  • To build the capacity of primary caregivers in the home-based management of malnourished children.

  • Sick children with malnutrition are managed in hospitals whereas children without any disease are given feeding advice and regularly measured and monitored in the community by FHWs and AWWs.

Services to be provided at NRC :

  • Treatment & Patient management.

  • Nutritional support to inmates.

  • Nutrition education to his/her family members.

  • Other counseling services viz. Family planning, Better hygiene practices, Psycho-social care & development.

  • Capacity building of the primary caregivers on Preparation of low cost

  • Nutritious diet from locally available food ingredients, Developing Feeding habits & time management in mothers, imparting knowledge of developing kitchen garden, etc.

  • Follow up Services