Hyderabad, August 31: The Hyderabad Women and Child Development Agency (DWCDA) is considering a modification of the existing methodology and syllabus for early education sectors in the district.
At a recent workshop held in the city, the new methods were explained to the Anganwadi workers. Part of its ‘Training for Trainers’ scheme, sources at the DWCDA indicated that the Department would pay special emphasis on coordinated efforts to reduce instances of malnutrition and unhygienic upbringing in the underdeveloped and slum areas in Hyderabad district.
The move towards roping in more hands for a potential infant health crisis has seen the DWCDA take the aid of the District Medical Health Department and NGOs.
“While malnutrition still plagues the poorer localities in urban centres, it is disconcerting to note that many mothers either faced with ignorance or below the poverty line are unable to meet the nutritional and developmental requirements of children in the district,” revealed Department officials.
Meanwhile, the onset of monsoonrelated diseases and issues related to shortage of potable water to needy families has compelled the agency to intensify their activities across the 749 Anganwadi centres in Hyderabad district.
While some centre workers would be scheduled to look into the issue of children born with disabilities, a section of Anganwadi workers would be employed in the local level to look into the issue of women empowerment, informed Project Director Rajya Lakshmi.
Moreover, with the National Nutrition Week coming up in the first week of September, the DWDCA is likely to pull up its socks for the month to come.
“September 2 would be a day referred to as the close monitoring day, where the progress and development of newborns till the age of 5 would be tabulated and observed for instances of food shortage in families,” Rajya Lakshmi added.
Incidentally, a large number of mothers, even in the urban areas are not equipped with adequate information on the nutritional and developmental aspects of children, which has accounted for low body weights among children.
The DWCDA in this regard is also conducting similar programmes in the rural sectors, irrespective of socio economic strata.
Presently, the Project is running a bimonthly welfare and awareness programme across the Anganwadi centres across Hyderabad district. As per an annual schedule prescribed by the Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy in November last year, the Anganwadi workers would receive training on preschool activities from September onwards.
For the time being, disease prevention and immunisation would also figure in the agenda for the Agency in Hyderabad along with the rest of the State.
–Agencies–