The Jharkhand government has launched the “SAAMAR Campaign” which stands for “Strategic Action for Alleviation of Malnutrition and Anaemia Reduction” campaign recently. The campaign was launched to tackle the malnutrition in Jharkhand.

Highlights

The SAAMAR campaign was started with the aim of identifying the anaemic women and malnourished children. The campaign converges several departments to effectively tackle the problem of malnutrition.

Malnutrition in State

The Economic Survey 2021 states that, A Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey was conducted in the state for the period of March 2017 to July 2017. As per the survey, 36% of the children under five years of age are stunted, 29% are of the children are affected from Wasting, while 45% of the children are underweight. These factors indicate the status of undernutrition in state.

About SAAMAR Campaign

SAAMAR campaign has been launched in the state with a 1000 days target. Under the campaign, annual surveys will be conducted in order to track the progress. The campaign seeks to converge several departments like Rural Development Department, Food & Civil Supplies and engagement with the school management committees & gram sabhas to make them aware of nutritional behaviour. It also focusses on the Primarily Vulnerable Tribal Groups for their nutritional needs. The campaign further encourages the research and proposes fellowships on the nutritional behaviour of these groups in order to effectively implement the schemes.

How this campaign will run?

Under the campaign, all the Anganwadi centres will be engaged in identifying those children who are undernourished so that severe acute malnutrition among children can be tackled.  After the children are identified, they will be treated across the Malnutrition Treatment Centres. In the similar manner, the anaemic women will also be listed and will treated in serious cases. This survey will be done by measuring the Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) of women and children using the MUAC tapes and Edema levels which results into swelling in a small area or entire body.