Shillong, May 14: A high-level delegation from UNICEF on Wednesday met Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma at the State Guest House, Taraghar, Shillong, to review ongoing collaborations in child health, nutrition, maternal care, immunization, adolescent development and community-led social interventions in Meghalaya.
During the meeting, the UNICEF delegation shared observations from its two-day visit across the state, including interactions with frontline health workers, mothers’ groups, village health councils, district officials and youth leaders.
The delegation appreciated Meghalaya’s grassroots and community-driven initiatives aimed at improving immunization coverage, reducing maternal mortality, strengthening nutrition outcomes and encouraging youth participation.
A senior UNICEF official reportedly described Meghalaya as a state demonstrating strong leadership in child-focused human development, stating that the community-based governance model and institutional partnerships are creating measurable impact at the grassroots level.
The delegation also highlighted Meghalaya’s integrated approach towards maternal and child health, nutrition and early childhood development, noting the state’s progress towards achieving the “003 Agenda” — zero maternal deaths, zero unimmunized children and healthy growth for every child during the first 1,000 days of life to prevent stunting.
Discussions were also held on the government’s Mission 1000 Days programme launched earlier this year to tackle child stunting and improve maternal and child health during the critical early stages of development.
UNICEF representatives further appreciated Meghalaya’s focus on adolescent development and youth engagement, particularly the formation of the Young People’s Action Group, which they described as an important platform for involving youth in policy discussions and development priorities.
Addressing the meeting, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said Meghalaya’s development strategy is centred on human development and long-term institution building rather than isolated schemes.
He stated that the government has adopted an integrated and data-driven approach involving multiple departments and stakeholders to address developmental challenges ranging from maternal mortality and malnutrition to immunization and adolescent development.
The Chief Minister also stressed the importance of documentation, digital monitoring systems and evidence-based policymaking in ensuring measurable outcomes and building a sustainable development model for the state.
He invited UNICEF to continue supporting Meghalaya through technical expertise, knowledge sharing, documentation of best practices and partnerships with development institutions and CSR stakeholders.
UNICEF reaffirmed its commitment to continue partnering with the Meghalaya government in strengthening maternal and child healthcare systems, nutrition interventions, adolescent empowerment, disability inclusion and community-led development initiatives.
