ABSTRACT
Child health gained special public health attention with discoveries in microbiology which led to the development of vaccines. In 1952, India became the first developing country to establish a national family planning (FP) program to address the issues of high fertility and rapid population growth with the argument that population control measures may be a more "cost-effective" way of achieving the same ends as public health. Maternal and Child Health (MCH) care became an integral part of the Family Welfare Program since it was recognized that reduction in infant and child mortality is directly influenced by reduction in birth rate. Provision of mid-day meal (MDM) by the Ministry of Education also facilitates the health sector in reaching school children and adolescents with provision of weekly IFA supplements described under section 4. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched Anemia Mukt Bharat (AMB), a revised anaemia prevention and treatment strategy, to address widespread iron deficiency anemia among women, adolescents and children.
