The Nutri Clinic initiative emerges as a proactive response to the critical health needs of women and children in selected rural areas of Bihar, covering 75 villages across Patna, Munger, Saharsa, Purnea, and Kaimur districts. Primarily focusing on communities belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, grappling with challenges like landlessness, economic deprivation, and low literacy rates.

In these regions, where Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) centres exist but face significant challenges, the Nutri Clinic under the Global Program India takes a holistic approach. Acknowledging the limitations of distant and under-equipped Primary Health Centres and struggling Anganwadi centres, the initiative aims not only to provide healthcare services but also to enhance awareness and customize interventions based on the unique sociocultural fabric of each village.

 

Taking this best practice forward, a Nutri Clinic was organized in Mahila village, Nuaon block of Kaimur district, on February 13, 2024. In an area with limited healthcare access, this Nutri Clinic not only bridged the gap but also fostered an environment of health awareness and self-care among the participants.
This initiative aligns with a broader commitment by the Global Program India to reduce malnutrition cases and address challenges of nutrition and food security. In Bihar, where NFHS-5 data indicates alarming rates of anaemia (64% in women and 81% in Kaimur district), such initiatives become crucial in addressing critical health challenges and building the capacity of community members.

The community was mobilized by the Global Program India team to attend the Nutri Clinic, where ANM Manju Devi of GP rendered her services and screened 30 participants. Conducting comprehensive screenings, including hemoglobin, blood pressure, weight, and height measurements, the Nutri Clinic identified critical health issues that might have otherwise gone unnoticed.

Through personalized nutritional counselling, the Nutri Clinic initiative marks a crucial step in empowering the community with knowledge to improve health sustainably and overcome challenges posed by malnutrition and anaemia.

Geeta Kumari, a lactating mother facing numerous health challenges, shares her story of transformation through the Nutri Clinic. Constant fatigue and an inability to perform daily tasks were constant companions until comprehensive health screenings revealed her silent battle with anaemia.

The camp not only diagnosed her condition but also offered personalized nutritional counselling, emphasizing the importance of integrating locally sourced, iron-rich foods into her diet. Geeta’s journey didn’t end with the diagnosis; it ignited a sense of empowerment within her, leading to a commitment to share her newfound knowledge with her family and neighbours.

“It’s about making small, sustainable changes to our diets and lifestyle,” she states, epitomizing the transformative impact of the Nutri Clinic initiative.