Maternal and child healthcare services in Madhya Pradesh are set for a major transformation, from tribal regions to the remotest villages of the state. The Department of Women and Child Development will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bhopal, enabling frontline workers to directly benefit from the institute’s advanced technology and specialised expertise.
Chairing a high-level review meeting at the Mantralaya, Minister for Women and Child Development Nirmala Bhuria directed officials to finalise the partnership at the earliest. She stated that AIIMS specialists will provide specialised clinical training to Anganwadi workers for the accurate identification and prompt management of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) among children.
Data-Driven Decision Making and Empowerment of Frontline Workers
Minister Nirmala Bhuria said that Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav is fully committed to improving the health and nutritional well-being of women and children across the state. She noted that AIIMS Bhopal’s technical expertise will significantly strengthen the capacity of frontline workers and Anganwadi centres, enabling evidence-based, data-driven policymaking and more effective implementation of nutrition and health programmes.
The proposed MoU will be signed between the Department of Women and Child Development and the State Centre of Excellence and State Technical Support Unit operating under the Department of Community and Family Medicine at AIIMS Bhopal.
Special Focus on Tribal Areas and Capacity Building
Under the partnership, expert doctors and technical teams from AIIMS Bhopal will provide specialised medical and technical training to Anganwadi workers, supervisors and project officers. Minister Ms. Bhuria informed that the training programme has already been launched in the tribal-dominated districts of Jhabua and Dhar and encouraging outcomes are expected in the coming months.
Research on Malnutrition and Behaviour Change Communication
Experts from AIIMS Bhopal are currently conducting research on the health status of children suffering from Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM). In collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Centre of Excellence (NCoE), New Delhi, studies are also being undertaken to improve Take Home Ration (THR) and promote Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) to enhance health awareness among families.
According to experts, accurate and timely data can help identify severely ill and malnourished children at an early stage, ensuring prompt treatment and saving lives. The partnership is also expected to promote long-term convergence of various health and nutrition services across Madhya Pradesh.
The review meeting was attended by Commissioner, Department of Women and Child Development, Nidhi Nivedita; Professor and Head of the Department of Community and Family Medicine, AIIMS Bhopal, Dr. Arun M. Kokane (PI & HOD); Nodal Officer Dr. Abhijeet Pakhare; State Coordinator Deepak Pandey and other senior officials of the department.
