Which of the following statements about the Mid-Day Meal program is true?

Appeared in: Haryana CHO - 2022

Explanation

The Mid-Day Meal (MDM) program is designed as a low-cost intervention to improve the nutritional status of school-age children.
One of the main principles is that the cost of the meal should be reasonably low.
This is achieved by using locally available foods, which also ensures cultural acceptability and freshness.
The program's primary objectives are to increase school enrollment, attendance, and retention while combating malnutrition.

Option A: The MDM is explicitly designed to be a supplement to the child's home diet, not a replacement for it. The goal is to augment, not substitute, their daily nutritional intake.
Option C: The guidelines state that the menu should be changed frequently to avoid monotony and ensure children continue to eat and enjoy the meals.
Option D: The program aims to provide approximately one-third (1/3) of the daily calorie requirement and half (1/2) of the daily protein requirement, not two-thirds of calories.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Principles of the Mid-Day Meal (MDM) Program as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Community health nurses play a vital role in monitoring the implementation of the MDM scheme, including checking food quality, hygiene, and ensuring nutritional guidelines are met.
Nurses can use the platform for health education on topics like hygiene, nutrition, and deworming, thereby improving the overall health of the school children.
What if? If a community health nurse observes that children in a school are consistently falling sick with gastrointestinal issues, their first action should be to investigate the hygiene and safety practices related to the preparation and serving of the mid-day meal and report findings to the appropriate authorities.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core subject of the question, which is the Mid-Day Meal (MDM) program.
The question asks for a 'true' statement, meaning you must evaluate each option based on the known principles of this public health program.
Recall or look for the key features of the MDM program. Consider its purpose, nutritional targets, and operational guidelines.
Evaluate Option A: Does it replace the home diet? No, it's a supplement.
Evaluate Option B: Is it meant to be low-cost? Yes, this is a key principle for its sustainability.
Evaluate Option C: Is the menu fixed? No, variety is encouraged to avoid monotony.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 2 — Subpart A (pp 1-232 of 464) p. 198-200

Practise the full Haryana CHO - 2022

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.