Jhabua's Anganwadi centres fail surprise checks on child health and safety

District Collector Neena Meena recently conducted unannounced inspections at two Anganwadi centres in Jhabua, Madhya Pradesh. The visits aimed to evaluate health, nutrition, and sanitation services during Village Health, Sanitation and Nutrition Day (VHSND) sessions. Her findings revealed gaps in vaccination coverage, maternal care, and infrastructure safety.

At Vadlipada Anganwadi centre, Meena reviewed records for antenatal care (ANC) registrations and vaccination statuses. She found that only two of the 24 children due for immunisation had received their shots. Among 146 identified pregnant women, 25 were classified as high-risk, while five of the 22 newly registered women had missed their ANC checkups. The collector also assessed the nutritional status of enrolled children, focusing on those with severe acute malnutrition (SAM), moderate acute malnutrition (MAM), and severe underweight (SUW) conditions.

Meena personally checked digital entries on the U-WIN and Nutrition Tracker platforms. She sampled the meals served to children and instructed staff to ensure proper food distribution. Her inspection also highlighted delays in community mobilisation by ASHA workers, which she strongly criticised.

At Kharakui Anganwadi centre, the building's poor condition prompted immediate action. Meena ordered officials to relocate the facility to a rented, safe space without delay. Before leaving, she directed the Chief Medical and Health Officer to provide a detailed report on the issues identified.

The surprise inspections exposed critical shortcomings in vaccination rates, maternal health monitoring, and infrastructure. Officials now face the task of submitting comprehensive reports and addressing the collector's directives. Relocation plans for the Kharakui centre must also proceed swiftly to ensure child safety.