Anganwadi worker Bariphylla Nongsteng awarded with citation for commendable effort in reducing SAM in Umthli A village

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaOctober 12, 2023

Bariphylla Nongsteng, an anganwadi worker of Umthli A, Laitlyngkot in East Khasi Hills District was awarded with a citation on her commendable effort in reducing severe acute malnourished (SAM) in her village by Union Minister of Women and Child Development Smriti Irani on October 10.

This was informed by Social Welfare Minister Paul Lyngdoh on Thursday.

Lyngdoh said that Bariphylla has been working for 7 years at Umthli A, Anganwadi Centre.

During her monthly growth monitoring she observed that Larimaphi Nongsteng (1 year 1 Month old) a second born female twins of B Nongsteng her nutritional status falls under severely acute malnourished (SAM) weighing only 5 kg and length of 63 cm as on March 2023 whereas the twins male child his nutritional status is normal.

Multiple home visits were made since March 2023 by the MO, CDPO, LS, ANM, Anganwadi and ASHA for counselling to admit the child in NRC Shillong, The parents were reluctant to seek immediate medical intervention and to admit the child in N.R.C. with a belief that the child is healthy and normal.

Through a convergent effort of involving the Local MLA, DC East Khasi Hills, District MCH Officer, DPO, CDPO, State POSHAN Consultant and the Village head the parents got their child admitted in the NRC on April 17th to 4th May 2023.

The child was diagnosed as SAM, severe anaemic and delayed gross development.

Regular follow up and home visits have been monitored monthly by the Anganwadi Worker and Lady Supervisor on the growth monitoring of the child also the Village head from time to time remind the father to take proper care and health check-up for the child. The child has made remarkable improvement and her current weight gain as on September 2023 is 6.9 kg and length of 72 cm. The child can now sit on her own without any support and has started crawling.