"KCR Nutrition Kit – Launch – Note"

KCR Nutrition Kit – Launch – Note

1. The state has achieved the sustainable development goal and the national health policy goal of maternal mortality ratio (MMR) of 43 with its
consistent commitment and holistic programming. Thanks to all the efforts of the department, doctors and frontline staff to reach this milestone.

2. Pregnancy is one of the most critical phases in a woman’s life. Her health and nutritional status during pregnancy defines the pregnancy’s outcome. A woman with poor nutritional status is at higher risk of pregnancy-related complications than a healthy woman.
3. The National Family Health Survey (NFHS-V) 2019-20 highlights that anaemia is prevalent among 53% of pregnant women in Telangana state and complications due to anaemia in pregnant women are a major cause of maternal mortality.
4. Towards making the state anaemia-free, the government’s flagship programs such as KCRKIT and anaemia prevention interventions include
a. early identification of anaemia through digital hemoglobinometer,
b. supervised IFA capsule administration at the doorstep,
c. iron sucrose administration to moderately and severely anaemic pregnant women,
d. albendazole administration for deworming and
e. counselling cards
5. Nevertheless, the state is committed to further decrease anaemia by introducing another flagship program namely the KCR Nutrition Kit for the pregnant women in the neediest areas with high prevalence of anaemia - Adilabad, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Jayashankar Bhupalpally, Jogulamba Gadwal, Kamareddy, Kumarambheem Asifabad, Mulugu, Nagarkurnool and Vikarabad.
6. The contents of the kit are designed in such a way to be highly nutritious with proteins, energy, micro and macronutrients and the supplements intended to address anaemia and improve body mass index. The list of items include:
a. Horlicks (1kg),
b. Deseeded dates (1 kg),
c. Ghee (500 ml),
d. Iron syrup (3 bottles),
e. One albendazole tablet,
f. Plastic cup (1) and
g. A plastic basket.

   7. These are given two times to every pregnant woman who are due for their 2 nd ANC (13-27 weeks) and 3 rd ANC (28-24 weeks).
8. If the mother has good iron levels in her blood, she will pass on some of the iron to her baby thus preventing even the babies from getting anaemic. Therefore, all those eligible pregnant women are requested to utilise the KCR nutrition kit to improve their weight gain, nutritional status of the mother and the growing baby inside the womb.

Brief on poster and flipcharts being launched
1. Poster on nutrition kit – The poster contains the details of the products being given to the pregnant women as part of the KCR nutrition kit and the pictures depicting the same.
2. Gestational month-wise counselling cards coupled with mental health messages for pregnant and lactating women
The KCR nutrition kit is not complete without adequate awareness and counselling to pregnant women as per their gestation age, body mass index, haemoglobin levels in the blood, weight gain and the nutritional care during pregnancy. Moreover, the utilisation of comprehensive ANC services by the pregnant women is also affected by the sound mental health status of the pregnant women. Hence, counselling the women using gestational cards that are integrated with the elements of maternal mental health is very important for not only giving the needed awareness on the routine care in gestation but also in screening and identifying the pregnant women in need of mental health care and providing appropriate referrals.
3. At-risk cards: There are various high-risk conditions that pregnant women are prone to. They are Anaemia, Hypertension, Gestational diabetes, Hypothyroidism, women who are too young, women with obesity etc. These women require specialised counselling for medical as well as nutritional care. The ‘At-risk’ counselling cards help our frontline workers to counsel these women with right messages.