Peer-reviewed article
Advancing paediatric nutrition: interdisciplinary perspectives from the clinic to the community – symposium proceedings
Shalini Gajanan Hegde, Greeshma Mulakatte, Alekia Uscoicar, Anura V. Kurpad, Pratibha Dwarkanath ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-sonnet-5-5This is a report of a two-day symposium on paediatric nutrition in India, hosted by St. John's National Academy of Health Sciences. The first day covered the management of intestinal failure and the role of parenteral and enteral nutrition. The second day covered maternal and child nutrition in communities, including breastfeeding, complementary feeding, stunting and government programme strategies. The organisers conclude that nutrition for vulnerable children needs continuous care supported by technology, coordinated systems and policy.
Key points
- Paediatric nutrition directly influences survival, clinical outcomes and long-term health.
- Day 1 highlighted global best practices and surgical advances in managing intestinal failure, and the need to strengthen multidisciplinary nutrition support teams in India.
- Day 2 addressed breastfeeding challenges, complementary feeding, stunting and government programme strategies at community level.
- Nutrition for vulnerable children requires continuous care supported by technology, coordinated systems and policy.
- The symposium laid the foundation for sustained annual engagement on paediatric nutrition systems in India.
Limitations
Only a short abstract of the symposium proceedings is available, so it gives no data, detailed findings or evaluation of any intervention. It cannot tell us how well any of the approaches discussed work.
Abstract
Paediatric nutrition directly influences survival, clinical outcomes, and long-term health, and is particularly of significance in India with one of the world's largest child populations. This symposium, hosted by St. John's National Academy of Health Sciences as part of an ICMR-funded Centre for Advanced Research initiative, convened national and international experts spanning from clinical nutrition and public health. Day 1 focused on the management of intestinal failure and the life-saving role of parenteral and enteral nutrition, highlighting global best practices, surgical advances, and the need to strengthen multidisciplinary nutrition support teams in India. Day 2 shifted to maternal and child nutrition at the community level, addressing breastfeeding challenges, complementary feeding, stunting, and government program strategies. Together, the sessions underscored that nutrition for vulnerable children requires continuous care supported by technology, coordinated systems, and policy. The symposium laid the foundation for sustained annual engagement to strengthen paediatric nutrition systems in India.