National Nutrition Week (NNW) is an annual nutrition event observed in India during the First week of September from 1st September to 7th September. The events of NNW are organised by the Food and Nutrition Board of the Ministry of Women and Child Development(WCD), Government of India to educate the importance and role of nutrition in the human body.
Background:
i.The Food and Nutrition board of the Ministry of WCD launched the National Nutrition Week in 1982.
ii.The objective of the National Nutrition Week is to create awareness on the importance of nutrition which is the focal point of health and well-being which is directly linked to human resource development, productivity and national growth.
Importance of Nutrition:
i.The father of Modern Medicine – Hippocrates stated that “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food”.
ii.Intake of Foods with considerable medicinal properties provide necessary nutrients to maintain good health, prevent deficiency diseases and chronic diet-related disorders.
Steps taken to raise awareness:
i.The Central government launched the POSHAN Abhiyan with an aim to make India malnutrition free by 2022.
ii.The objective of POSHAN Abhiyan is to reduce the stunted growth with the support of Anganwadi workers in the districts of India which are identified with the highest malnutrition burden.
About Ministry of Women and Child Development:
Cabinet Minister– Smriti Zubin Irani
Minister of State– Sushri Debasree Chaudhuri
