CMAM in Maharashtra
Based on many pilot projects of UNICEF and a pilot study was done in Nandurbar, the Maharashtra government rolled out the Community based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) programme under which Village Child Development Centres (VCDCs) were set up at Anganwadi levels for the treatment of non-complicated SAM children. The programme included a screening of children and health check-ups, giving three types of therapeutic foods, training of AWWs and ASHAs, and a small honorarium to Anganwadi to bring children to VCDC. It undertook active (door-to-door surveys) and passive (when a child comes for other reasons) screening. When a child was detected with oedema or any critical condition, the child was referred to a hospital (5%). When the child had respiratory complications or no appetite or other complications the child was referred to Child Treatment Centres (10%). The remaining children (85-90%) were dealt with in the community. The results of the program have been published in a book called Bal Sanjeevani.
