AIIMS-Nagpur to Lead Maharashtra’s First Cohesive Childhood NCD Care Plan The State Public Health Department of Maharashtra announced on Thursday the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Nagpur, in collaboration with Unicef Maharashtra. The agreement aims to strengthen the prevention and management of childhood non-communicable diseases (NCDs) through a systems-based approach. The MoU was formalized in the presence of Health Minister Prakash Abitkar, MLA Nana Patole, Maharashtra Unicef chief Sanjay Singh, and other officials. This initiative marks Maharashtra’s first comprehensive strategy to address the growing burden of childhood NCDs, which include conditions such as type 1 diabetes, asthma, obesity, and mental health disorders. India has seen a significant rise in childhood NCDs, with early onset leading to long-term health and economic challenges. The collaboration between AIIMS Nagpur, Unicef Maharashtra, and the state government seeks to create scalable models of care by integrating clinical expertise with public health delivery. AIIMS Nagpur will serve as a technical center of excellence, while Unicef will provide strategic support in convening stakeholders, co-developing solutions, and enabling implementation within government systems. Key components of the initiative include the development of evidence-based Standard Operating Protocols (SOPs) for six priority childhood NCDs: type 1 diabetes, asthma, obesity, mental health conditions, congenital heart disease, and sickle cell disease.#aiims_nagpur #unicef_maharashtra #state_public_health_department_maharashtra #health_minister_prakash_abitkar #mla_nana_patole
