Relevance: Mains: G.S paper II: governance: Health
Introduction:
- Many developing nations including India are presently dealing with severe health concerns at both ends of the nutrition-spectrum bearing dual burden of malnutrition.
• Socio-economic/industrial development coupled with lifestyle changes have led to drastic shift in disease pattern from communicable to non-communicable diseases. Disparity in social justice/equity adds to the existing concerns.
• In the current scenario, a paradigm shift from curative to preventive approach to disease is a prerequisite at individual as well as mass level.
• Health promotion approach is envisaged to empower the population to take well informed and rational health-related choices. Effective communication strategies for generating awareness and greater community engagement using locally available resources/technology supported with healthy policies is need of the hour.
Few Initiatives:
- POSHAN Abhiyan has been launched as a Jan Andolan.
• Mera Aspatal (My Hospital) is a Ministry of Health initiative to receive patient feedback for the services received at the hospital through user friendly multiple channels such as SMS and web portals. It aims at helping the government to take appropriate decisions for enhancing the quality of healthcare delivery.
• MoHFW has adopted a strategy of organizing Health Melas to provide health education and early diagnosis besides providing health care services completely free of cost.
• The ‘Eat Right India’ movement incorporates mass media, including social media, as part of its outreach to generate public awareness.
Way Forward:
- It is important to use a combination of evidence-based and behaviourally focused educational strategies that involve active participation of students, school/college staff and wider community.
• Schools should be permitted to adapt and prioritize elements of the curriculum as per the local scenario, availability of the resources as well as population needs.
• According to FAO, by linking the curriculum to local food cultures and biodiversity, the elements of cultural preservation and environment sustainability can be effectively incorporated into a more integrated approach.
• Masses need to be educated to grow, harvest and prepare nutritious seasonal produce in their local settings.
• A positive step that is being taken India is banning the sale or serving of junk food/sugarsweetened beverages in school/college cafeterias and stores in and around school premises to promote healthy food/drinking water.
• All health and nutrition interventions should be designed for long term sustainability.
• There is a dire need for academicians to prioritise educational interventions on optimal dietary practices and cost effective policies; monitor and evaluate positive health indicators and policy outcomes.
• Various advocacy groups/NGOs need to join hands with scientists to disseminate best health/nutrition related practices to the masses.