Health Min focuses on 'nutrition security' to achieve goals of Eat Right India movement

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Thursday emphasised on need to move from food security to nutrition security to achieve goals of Eat Right India Movement. He urged or ministries concerned to form a joint platform to determine common goals and strategy and synergise ir actions.

Dr Harsh Vardhan presided over an inter-ministerial meet with FSSAI and senior officials of various ministries to build a 'whole of government' approach to achieve 'Vision 2050' of Eat Right India Movement.

According to an official statement, he took te of fact ecomic cost of food-borne diseases in India is estimated to be a whopping USD 15 billion. To move from food security to nutrition security, line ministries are expected to come toger to form a common platform to determine common goals and strategy and synergise ir actions accordingly, he said.

" different ministries can make critical interventions in primary production, food processing, ir regulation with respect to wast and issues of hygiene and end-consumption. Only n will 'Eat Right India' become a movement in its true sense, he said.

"A systems-based approach can ensure food safety along with ir secure availability, promoting a healthy diet along with taking care of environment through sustainable practices," he added.  or line ministries include Women and Child Development Ministry, Agriculture Ministry and Ministries of Food, Fisheries.

READ | Gupkar Declaration signatories formally anunce alliance, demand restoration of Art 370

READ | Coronavirus LIVE Updates: India's tally at 73 lakhs; Centre issues festival guidelines

Health Minister on COVID-19 vaccine

Meanwhile, in ar meeting, Dr Harsh Vardhan also said that India is expected to have a COVID-19 vaccine in a few months and country should be in process of delivering it to people in next six months. He made comments at Annual General Meeting of Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS) and St. John's Ambulance.

"We are very much into vaccine development process...in next few months at most we should have a vaccine and in next six months we should be in process of delivering vaccine to people of India," he said. Vardhan said to fight against COVID-19 social vaccine of maintaining a distance of six feet should be followed, along with regular washing of hands and wearing of masks and face covers, especially in public places. 

READ | Sushant death case: CBI hits out at 'speculative reports', says 'investigation continues'

READ | Madrassa row: BJP MLA asks CM Thackeray to implement 'Assam model in Maharashtra'