Jhabua Anganwadi centres exposed for poor healthcare and unsafe infrastructure

Collector Neha Meena conducted unannounced visits to two Anganwadi centres in Jhabua, Madhya Pradesh, this week. The inspections at Vadlipada and Kharakui revealed gaps in healthcare services and poor infrastructure, prompting immediate action from local authorities.

During the visit to Vadlipada, Meena reviewed records for antenatal care (ANC) registrations and vaccination coverage. She found that only two of the 24 children due for immunisation had received their shots. Additionally, five of the 22 newly registered pregnant women had missed their ANC checkups. The collector also examined the monitoring of high-risk pregnancies and the nutritional status of children in severe acute malnutrition (SAM), moderate acute malnutrition (MAM), and severely underweight (SUW) categories.

At the Kharakui centre, Meena discovered the building was in a dangerous condition. She ordered officials to shift operations to a rented, safer facility without delay. The collector also checked digital entries on the U-WIN and Nutrition Tracker platforms, sampled meals served to children, and instructed staff to ensure proper food distribution.

Expressing dissatisfaction with the performance of ASHA workers, Meena criticised their failure to mobilise communities on time. She directed the Chief Medical and Health Officer to submit a detailed report on the shortcomings observed during the inspection.

The surprise checks exposed critical lapses in vaccination coverage, maternal care, and infrastructure at the two centres. Officials have been instructed to address the issues immediately, including relocating the Kharakui facility and improving mobilisation efforts. A full report on the findings is expected from the health department soon.