Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Speaker Kodela Sivaprasada Rao and minister Kimidi Mrunalini taste the nutrition food at a symposium on child nutrition in Vijayawada on Friday. (Photo: DC)

Vijayawada: Children hold the future of the state, observed Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, during a symposium on ‘Child Nutrition: Invest in the first 1,000 days of life’, in Vijayawada on Friday. He promised that the state government would ensure proper nutrition to the new-born children.

The symposium was organised jointly organised by Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly and the Unicef, in which Mr Naidu, Assembly Speaker Kodela Sivaprasads Rao, principal secretary health, Poonam Malakondaiah and Unicef representative Dr Saba Merahtu participated.

Mr Naídu said that China, Japan and other countries in Europe have been suffering with low population growth. The same problem is likely to be faced by the India, particularly Andhra Pradesh, if we dont take preventive measures, he said.

The Chief Minister explained that the government would focus on the newly married couples in order to protect the children from malnutrition problem.

The prime reason behind the mother and child deaths was neglecting of the pregnant women, Mr Naidu observed. The first 1,000 days between a womans pregnancy and her child’’s second birthday offer a unique window of opportunity to build healthier and more prosperous fut-ure, observed the doctors.

Dr M.K. Bhan, National Professor, IIT, Delhi, and former secretary, department of biotechnology, central government, observed that at least 16 per cent of the schoolchildren are suffering from blood pressure and diabetes.

The right nutrition during the first 1,000 days has a profound impact on a childs ability to grow, learn and thrive and also a lasting effect on a country’’s health and prosperity.

Minister Peethala Sujatha said that the state government has been running 55,607 Anganvadi centres for the mother and child.