BY TC News Desk
Agartala, 21st November 2025: Unakoti district observed a week-long Village Health and Nutrition Day (VHND) and National Newborn Week from November 15 to 21, 2025, under the initiative of the Mailong Ayushman Arogya Mandir, functioning under Kanika Memorial Primary Health Centre. As part of the programme, a special health and nutrition awareness camp was organized at the West Panchmanagar Anganwadi Kendra to provide essential services to pregnant women, newborns, children, and local residents.
Community Health Officer Sani Debbarma, Multipurpose Health Worker Hiranjit Debbarma, along with other staff from the local health and nutrition department, were present at the event. The VHND initiative aimed to deliver National Health Mission services directly to the grassroots level.
Key services included antenatal care such as health check-ups, blood pressure monitoring, anemia detection, and referral of high-risk pregnancies to medical facilities; immunization to ensure routine vaccination for infants under one year and completion of doses for those previously unvaccinated; and growth monitoring through regular assessment of children’s weight, growth, and nutritional progress.
During National Newborn Week, health workers provided detailed guidance on newborn care. Mothers were advised on maintaining warmth immediately after birth, initiating breastfeeding within the first hour, infection prevention, and the importance of colostrum. Special emphasis was placed on exclusive breastfeeding for six months, particularly for low-birth-weight and premature babies.
The camp also addressed broader health concerns by raising awareness on nutritious diets and complementary feeding, the prevention of diarrheal diseases and acute respiratory infections, as well as family planning and counseling on birth control methods.
Local residents expressed that such initiatives play a vital role in bringing healthcare services to the doorstep of villages. Health workers noted that the active participation of the community in West Panchmanagar would further strengthen awareness on maternal and child health and nutrition.
