Minister Calls For Improved Nutrition Outcomes In AP
Minister for women development and child welfare Gummidi Sandhya Rani has called for improving service quality: Reports
VISAKHAPATNAM: Minister for women development and child welfare Gummidi Sandhya Rani has called for improving service quality, strengthening interdepartmental coordination and adopting evidence-based interventions to improve nutrition among women and children in Andhra Pradesh.
Addressing the inaugural session of the state-level consultation on “Accelerating Nutrition Results in Andhra Pradesh” in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday, she said the Swarna Andhra vision encompassed healthy mothers, thriving children, empowered women and a strong future generation, alongside infrastructure development and economic growth.
Acknowledging progress in reducing child malnutrition and strengthening Anganwadi services, the minister said the next phase should focus on measurable outcomes and reaching vulnerable communities. She identified urban nutrition as a priority, particularly for migrant families and underserved urban populations.
On adolescent girls’ development, she called for measures to address anaemia, promote healthy diets and menstrual health, prevent child marriage and early pregnancy, and improve educational and livelihood opportunities. Initiatives such as Kishori Vikasam, Sakhi and YUVA groups would support these efforts, she said.
The minister stressed the need to build the capacity of frontline workers, strengthen supportive supervision and use data effectively to improve service delivery.
The consultation, supported by World Bank technical assistance in collaboration with the Union government and Niti Aayog, identified five priority areas: urban nutrition, adolescent empowerment, service quality, departmental coordination and evidence-based innovation.
The government aims to translate the recommendations into actionable measures over the next one to two years.