Executing a number of community welfare activities and creating awareness around nutrition, Ambuja Foundation zealously celebrated Poshan Maah 2024 in the month of September. The Foundation, known for its pan-India social development work to transform rural communities, conducted a month-long nutrition campaign focusing on awareness, health camps, community engagement programs and rallies in collaboration with ICDS and Health Department of the districts. Many events such as ‘god bharai’, ‘Annprashan’, counselling on breastfeeding and family planning were organised, focusing on maternal nutrition and balanced diet in association with ICDS and Health Department at AWCs and Block level.  Even at the skill training centres and amongst women and adolescent groups health camps and check-up sessions.

Special camps were also organized for pregnant and lactating mothers to counsel them about nutrition and its importance for them. The women were educated about improving maternal and child health through nutrition awareness and community engagement and discussions were also held on the role of nutrition in early childhood development.

The campaign aimed to spread awareness around the problem of malnutrition by improving nutritional outcomes for children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers. A series of nutrition demonstration sessions were organized across various Anganwadi centres aimed to education and empower communities, particularly mothers and caregives on the importance of balance nutrition for young children and pregnant women. At the sessions, beneficiaries learnt how to prepare affordable nutritious meals emphasizing the significance of a diverse diet.

During the first week of September, the foundation organised a nutritious meal ‘Kichidi’ cooking session in one of the locations with mothers and children in alignment with the ICDS department. A sensitization campaign was executed on the theme of ‘What you eat makes you who you are’ which indicates food selection is significant in our life as it directly affects our health.

Speaking on the success of ‘Poshan Maah 2024, Pearl Tiwari, CEO, Ambuja Foundation, said, “Good health and education go hand in hand. With the launch of ‘Poshan Bhi, Padhai Bhi,’ we want to build a foundation of health and education at grass root level that lasts a lifetime. Our initiative aims in creating awareness around lifestyle choices, nutritional habits, deficiencies, poor sanitation and hygiene. Critical issues of malnutrition, specially amongst children, pregnant women and lactating mothers will be addressed for the betterment of the society in these areas.”