Case Study of the Day: How Convergence between Health and WCD Can Curb Malnutrition

The district of Mahasamund in Chhattisgarh, India, has a high prevalence of malnutrition. In 2018, the district had an estimated 7.96% of children under the age of five who were severely acute malnourished (SAM) and 25.2% who were moderately acute malnourished (MAM).

The health and women and child development (WCD) departments in Mahasamund were working separately to address malnutrition. The health department was responsible for running the district’s nutrition rehabilitation centers (NRCs), where children with SAM and MAM were treated. The WCD department was responsible for monitoring the height and weight of children under the age of five but did not have access to remedial measures.

Convergence of Efforts

• In 2018, the district collector decided to bring about convergence between the health and WCD departments to tackle malnutrition. The two departments agreed to work together to create a more holistic approach to addressing the problem.
• The first step was to create a system for identifying malnourished children. The WCD department would continue to monitor the height and weight of children under the age of five, and any children who were identified as malnourished would be referred to the NRCs.
• The health department conduct surveys in schools and communities to identify children who were at risk of malnutrition. These children would also be referred to the NRCs.

Treatment and Follow-Up

• Once a child was admitted to an NRC, they would receive treatment for their malnutrition. This treatment would include a diet of nutritious food, as well as medical care.
• The children would also be followed up after they were discharged from the NRC. The WCD department would visit the children’s homes to check on their progress. The health department would also conduct regular surveys to monitor the prevalence of malnutrition in the district.

Results

• The convergence of efforts between the health and WCD departments has had a significant impact on the prevalence of malnutrition in Mahasamund. In 2022, the district’s SAM rate had fallen to 3.96%, and its MAM rate had fallen to 18.2%.
• The convergence of efforts has also improved the quality of care that malnourished children receive. Children are now being identified earlier and receiving treatment more quickly. This has helped to reduce the severity of malnutrition and the number of children who die from the condition.

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