Pune, June 19, 2024 – The ‘Quaker Bowl of Growth’ (BoG) program, a special nutrition-focused initiative, has concluded with significant success, as reported at a dissemination event held at Hotel Lemon Tree Premier, Pune. This joint initiative by Zilha Parishad Pune, PepsiCo R&D, PepsiCo Foundation, and MAMTA Health Institute for Mother and Child (MAMTA HIMC), and B. J. Government Medical College, Pune, has made substantial strides in combating malnutrition among young children in rural communities.
The event, held on June 19, 2024, showcased the outcomes and future plans of the BoG program. This initiative provided fortified multigrain and millet-based panjiri to 1,000 children aged 3 to 5 years daily in the Mawal and Mulshi blocks of Pune District, Maharashtra. Designed with a focus on early growth faltering identification, nutrition supplementation, awareness, and education, the program has achieved noteworthy results.
Key findings presented at the event revealed that more than half of the mildly malnourished children aged 3-5 years in the intervention areas have now reached normal growth standards for their age. These promising results have prompted Zilha Parishad Pune to announce the scaling up of the BoG program to an additional 2,000 mildly malnourished children from two new blocks in the Pune district.
The B. J. Government Medical College, Pune played a crucial role in mentoring the program, providing expert guidance in designing its research methodology. The event also recognized the efforts of Child Development Project Officers, top-performing Anganwadi workers, and community members with special felicitation.
Mr. Girase, Deputy CEO of Zilha Parishad Pune, expressed his appreciation for the collaboration. “The Zilha Parishad Pune has been working closely with Anganwadis in the state to improve the overall health, nutrition, and wellbeing of children. This event marks the formal release of the successful outcomes of the ‘Bowl of Growth’ Program. I extend heartfelt thanks to PepsiCo, B. J. Government Medical College, and MAMTA HIMC for this modest program. Such collaborations between the private sector, government, and civil society organizations are perfect examples of how we can create a positive health impact among underserved communities by working together towards a common goal. I hope we will continue collaborating and working towards the betterment of communities in other blocks of the Pune district.”
The Mamta HIMC in partnership with PepsiCo is working on addressing malnutrition through programs like ‘Quaker Bowl of Growth’ program, and ‘Dohale Jevan,’ which represents a concerted effort to address malnutrition through innovative and sustainable solutions. The success of these programs underscores the importance of multi-sector partnerships in tackling public health challenges.
