Sri Vijaya Puram | April 8
The 7th edition of POSHAN Pakhwada 2025 was launched across the Andaman & Nicobar Islands with active participation from communities, local authorities, and health departments. The fortnight-long campaign (April 8-22) under the POSHAN Abhiyaan aims to raise awareness about nutrition, especially for women, children, and adolescents.
In Tushnabad, the event began with a Poshan Rally flagged off by Anand Amrit Raj, Pradhan, followed by a march past by Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) and Helpers. Dr. V. Kaleshwar, CMO, emphasized early-life nutrition as a key to improving health outcomes. Dr. Alka Sharma highlighted the link between oral health and nutrition, while Dr. Sarika Verma stressed the importance of balanced diets. Mohd Sadique, Pradhan, Mithakhari, highlighted panchayat-level support. A recipe competition showcased community-led nutrition awareness.
In Prothrapur, the launch at the Community Hall saw the presence of Gurjeet Kaur, BDO, and Radhika Dheeraj, Ward Councillor. Rangoli and recipe competitions engaged the public, while the CDPO (Urban Project) elaborated on the campaign’s focus- first 1,000 days of life, use of the Beneficiary Module, community-based management of malnutrition (CMAM), and healthy lifestyle promotion.
In Diglipur, the campaign opened with a rally flagged off by SDM Kamaleshwar Rao, IAS, followed by awareness sessions and cultural events at the GPOA Hall. He described the initiative as a transformative movement to combat malnutrition. The CDPO, Indira Devi, emphasized prioritizing nutrition during the first 1,000 days, and urged community-level awareness to break the cycle of malnutrition.
Across all locations, health officials, ICDS staff, PRI representatives, and the public demonstrated strong support. The campaign will continue with educational activities, workshops, and outreach efforts to improve the islands’ nutritional outcomes.
