28th June: The 2nd National Conference on Community Health and Nutrition was organized by the Department of Community Medicine, Ramaiah Medical College in collaboration with Indian Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (IAPEN), Bangalore Regional Centre at the college premises on Friday.
The conference was an enlightening session about the current nutritional status of our country. With speakers from across industries, from professors to scientists, the learning was extensive and scientific.
The conference focused upon the current nutrition awareness and acceptance levels by the community based on long term studies. It was also interesting to understand various national and international policies that have been existing and have been working towards combating malnutrition in the country.
Micronutrient fortification and incorporation in the diets have been emphasized for better health and to avoid deficiency disorders. Iron deficiency anemia is still a huge concern and food based approaches to alleviate the same was also discussed.
All studies and talks insisted that nutrition education and awareness creation played a major role to reduce the malnutrition levels in the country. Renowned faculties present from across the country provided the latest and most relevant approaches to community health and nutrition issues.
The session also touched upon safe food consumptions, importance of good quality foods, understanding food safety hazards in the food chain, food safety scares in India such as heavy metal toxicity, unpermitted additives and food adulteration, food labelling and food regulatory system in India. It was interesting to know more about tackling the invisible challenges while trying to improve the community nutrition.
Focus was laid upon maternal malnutrition and how an ASHA worker play a role in contributing towards maternal care. The various assessment/screening tools used to assess the nutritional status at the community level was also discussed.
It was also emphasized that the nutritional benefits of traditional cereals were effective and their consumption should be encouraged.
