Arshid Rasool
Hyderabad, October 22, 2024: A delegation of 14 media professionals from Jammu & Kashmir, led by Tariq Rather, Deputy Director of the Press Information Bureau (PIB) Srinagar, visited the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) in Hyderabad on the second day of their media tour of Telangana. The delegation is on a five-day tour, from October 21 to 25, organized under the Central Sector Scheme ‘Development Communication & Information Dissemination’ to showcase the progress of various Government of India initiatives in the state.
During the visit to the NIN, which operates under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the delegation learned about the institute’s efforts to address nutritional and health challenges in India. Dr. Santasabuj Das, Director-Incharge of ICMR-NIN, highlighted the critical role nutrition plays in preventing both communicable and non-communicable diseases. He noted that poor dietary habits contribute to a significant portion of India’s disease burden, particularly conditions like coronary heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes. Dr. Das emphasized that good nutrition is not only essential for individual health but also has broad implications for community well-being and economic development.
The scientists at NIN, including Dr. Subbarao, Dr. M. Maheshwar, Dr. G. Bhanuprakash Reddy, and Dr. J. J. Babu, briefed the delegation on the institute’s research aimed at eliminating malnutrition in India. Their efforts focus on promoting healthy, sustainable diets and preventing nutrition-related public health issues such as undernutrition, anaemia, iodine deficiency, and other micronutrient shortages. The team also develops intervention models to tackle malnutrition through community-based trials.
The media professionals were also introduced to “Nutrify India Now 2.0,” a free lifestyle app developed by NIN-ICMR. The app serves as a personal health assistant, offering data on nutrition, physical activity, and overall well-being. Users can access information about nutrients in foods, recipes, and monitor their dietary intake to maintain a balanced diet and improve health outcomes.
Additionally, NIN presented details of its study conducted in Ladakh, known as the Diet and Biomarker Survey in India (DABS-I). This research aims to explore the dietary patterns and food habits of people in Ladakh while assessing anaemia prevalence and nutrient deficiencies.
The visit provided the media delegation with valuable insights into the ongoing research at NIN and the broader public health initiatives by the Government of India. The tour is part of PIB’s efforts to enhance media understanding of key central government institutions and schemes.
Shivacharan Reddy from PIB Hyderabad and other officials accompanied the delegation during the visit.
