Nutritionist Dr. Asna Urooz at Nutrition Mission Day

Mysuru:  “The economic status is very important as it reflects the health and social status of a family. Hence, based on one’s economic status, one should strike to have a balanced diet to keep oneself healthy and happy,” said Dr. Asna Urooz, Professor and Chairperson of Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Manasangangothri.

She was speaking at the Poshan Abhyiyan Dinacharane (Nutrition Mission Day) as part of the National Nutrition Mission Week organised by the District Administration, Women and Child Welfare Department and Zilla Panchayat at the Arivu-Neravu Kendra in Cheluvamba Hospital here this morning and said that it was very important to create awareness about proper nutrition and balanced diet among the rural people also.

This task is very difficult to be taken up by the Food and Nutrition Department, but the Anganwadi centres must be involved for the success of this programme. There are seven groups of food and depending on the economic status of a family, the balanced diet must be consumed to stay healthy, she said.

It is important to follow proper dietary habits like having rice one day, ragi another, wheat the third day and so on. For instance when one consumes 100 grams of wheat product it will contain 11 to 13 gram of proteins. However, it is the woman and child that need maximum attention because of the malnutrition that plagues the country. Also physical development of the child will be good if it is given a balanced diet, said Dr. Urooz.

 Even after 70 years of independence, 50 per cent of the women are anaemic and when blood tests are done, they will have very low level of haemoglobin content. This must be reversed to see that women enjoy better health, she said.

Superintendent of Cheluvamba Hospital Dr. Pramila said that this mission should not be confined to only a week but stress on nutritious food must always be there for woman and child. 

Women and Child Welfare Department Deputy Director K. Padma, Dr. Ganngamma, Dr. Saritha, Dr. Rashmi, Dr. Sampathamma, CDPOs (Child Development Project Officer) Manjula and Geetha, T. Narasipura Project Officer Poornima, Sushma Appaiah and others were present.