AIIMS Nagpur, UNICEF Join Hands to Tackle Childhood NCD Burden

Nagpur: The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Nagpur and UNICEF Maharashtra have partnered with the state public health department to address the growing threat of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among children.

Data from the Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey 2019 highlights an increasing risk of NCDs among children aged 5 to 9 years and adolescents aged 10 to 19 years in India. Common NCDs such as obesity, asthma, diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and sickle cell disease often stem from early-life risk factors like poor nutrition, sedentary lifestyles, and environmental exposures.

AIIMS Nagpur experts note that childhood NCDs are often under-recognised in the healthcare system, leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment, which can cause severe complications, reduced quality of life, and a higher healthcare burden.

Pilot programme in Vidarbha

The joint initiative will begin with a pilot programme in September in Bhandara and Wardha districts of the Vidarbha region. Protocols and training modules are being developed to ensure that functionaries are fully prepared before the screening process begins. Over the next three years, the programme will be expanded to 11 districts across Maharashtra.

A dedicated NCD task force was formed in February and received endorsement from the state public health department in April. This task force includes experts from the Indian Academy of Paediatrics, government medical colleges, academic institutions, and professional associations.

Centre of Excellence at AIIMS Nagpur

Since March, AIIMS Nagpur’s paediatrics department has been running a specialised NCD clinic, designated as the Centre of Excellence (CoE) for childhood NCDs. Each day of the week is dedicated to a specific NCD, with experts focusing on early screening, management, and awareness.

AIIMS Nagpur stated that the partnership combines the state government’s reach, UNICEF’s advocacy, and AIIMS’s clinical and research expertise. The goal is to build a preventive ecosystem that tackles childhood obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and respiratory disorders at their roots.

Community outreach and capacity building

The programme will integrate community outreach initiatives, capacity-building for healthcare workers, and robust data collection systems to detect early warning signs and enable timely interventions.

AIIMS Nagpur emphasised that the shared commitment to innovation and equity will ensure that children from all socio-economic backgrounds have the opportunity to grow up healthy.

This collaborative effort marks a significant step towards addressing the silent but growing burden of NCDs in children, aiming for long-term improvements in health outcomes across Maharashtra.