Straight Answers

Dr Nandini Mundkur CEO, Bangalore Children''s Hospital On the Children''s Health Mela to be held at the hospital on November 30.
What is the focus of this mela?
Most parents monitor just the physical growth of the child or their immunisation process. Questions like ideal nutrition, emotional intelligence and child rearing practices aren''t focussed on, particularly in the crucial period between birth and three years. Parents who attend the mela will be given the answers to all these questions and more.
What else will the mela have to offer?
Since it''s the first of its kind, we have also roped in students from Mount Carmel''s home science course and the Indian Montessori Centre. There will be a healthy baby contest, a story telling corner, a painting contest and even a parent quiz, among other things. It will be held from November 30 to December 1 at the Bangalore Children''s Hospital at Raja Rajeshwarinagar.
Bangalore Children''s Hospital has started a task force for this age group. What is its job?
This 0 to 3 task force has been formed by us along with various associations, including the Association of Paediatrics and NGOs like Madhyam. We also have early childhood development specialists, nutritionists and government agencies looking at how to bring focus to this age group.
Why the need to focus on this group?
This age group is neglected because these children have no voice. In India, parents always follow the wait and watch process. By the time they realise things have gone wrong, it''s very late. The focus has to come back because these are the best years of the child. It''s also the age group where the parental role should be maximum. All the effort that parents put in now is reflected later — it''s between 0 to 3 that the foundation for diabetes and obesity is laid.
kanakhirani@indiatimes.com