Shocking gaps exposed in Anganwadi centers after surprise health inspection
Collector Neha Meena conducted an unannounced inspection of two Anganwadi centers during Village Health, Sanitation and Nutrition Day (VHSND) sessions. The inspection at Vadlipada and Kharakui revealed serious gaps in healthcare services and infrastructure. Officials now face urgent demands for corrective action following the findings.
At Vadlipada, Meena reviewed records for antenatal care (ANC) registrations and vaccinations. She discovered that only two of the 24 scheduled children had received their shots. Five out of 22 newly registered pregnant women had also missed their ANC checkups.
The collector examined online entries on the U-WIN and Nutrition Tracker systems. She personally tasted the meals served to children and instructed staff to ensure proper food distribution. High-risk pregnancies and children categorized under severe acute malnutrition (SAM), moderate acute malnutrition (MAM), and severely underweight (SUW) were also checked.
At Kharakui, Meena found the Anganwadi center operating in a dilapidated building. She ordered officials to shift it immediately to a rented, safe facility. Expressing frustration, she criticized ASHA workers for failing to mobilize communities on time.
Before leaving, Meena directed the Chief Medical and Health Officer to submit a detailed report on the shortcomings observed during the inspection.
The surprise visit exposed critical lapses in vaccination coverage, maternal care, and infrastructure safety. Authorities must now address these issues swiftly, with follow-up reports expected from health officials. The collector's intervention aims to enforce accountability and improve service delivery at both centers.
