Mumbai: Maharashtra has taken a significant step towards addressing the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among children, with the state government signing a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with AIIMS Nagpur to build a structured, system-wide response.
The agreement, signed at Aarogya Bhavan by the Public Health Department, marks the first coordinated effort in the state to integrate prevention, early detection, and management of childhood NCDs into the public health system, with technical and strategic support from UNICEF Maharashtra.
The move comes at a time when data increasingly points to an early onset of conditions such as childhood obesity, Type 1 diabetes, asthma, and congenital disorders — illnesses that not only affect quality of life but also impose long-term economic and healthcare burdens.
AIIMS Nagpur has been designated as the technical centre of excellence under the initiative, tasked with guiding clinical protocols and strengthening institutional capacity. UNICEF will play a facilitative role, helping align stakeholders, co-develop scalable models, and ensure integration within government systems.
The MoU was formalised in the presence of Maharashtra Health Minister Prakash Abitkar and MLA Nana Patole, along with senior officials including Health Secretary Dr. Nipun Vinayak, Health Services Commissioner Dr. Kadambari Balkawade, and UNICEF Maharashtra Chief Sanjay Singh.
At its core, the initiative aims to move beyond fragmented interventions and build a structured response anchored in public health delivery.
The first phase will focus on developing standardised, evidence-based protocols for six priority conditions — Type 1 diabetes, asthma, obesity, mental health disorders, congenital heart disease, and sickle cell disease. These protocols are expected to serve as the backbone for uniform diagnosis and treatment across the state.
Parallelly, paediatric NCD clinics will be set up in 10 district hospitals, creating dedicated access points within the government system. Health workers in selected districts will undergo specialised training to strengthen early detection and management capabilities, while community-level screening and referral mechanisms will be expanded to ensure timely intervention.
Officials said the initiative is designed not as a standalone project but as a model that can be scaled across Maharashtra, and potentially replicated in other states.
By bringing together clinical expertise, administrative capacity, and development support, the partnership attempts to institutionalise childhood NCD care within the public health system — an area that has remained under-addressed despite rising disease trends.
If implemented effectively, the programme could redefine how India approaches chronic diseases in children — shifting the focus from episodic treatment to long-term, system-driven care.
