Hans News Service Amaravati

Twenty-one new nutrition rehabilitation centres (NRCs) will be established across the state to provide specialised treatment and nutritional support to children suffering from severe acute malnutrition (SAM), health minister Y Satya Kumar Yadav said.

In a statement here on Thursday, he said that the new centres will add 175 beds to the existing capacity. With these facilities becoming operational in phases, the number of NRCs in the State will increase from 21 to 42, while the total bed strength will rise from 340 to 515.

Eight 10-bed NRCs are being established at Araku, Munchingiput and Chintapalli in Alluri Sitarama Raju district, Anakapalli, Bapatla, Nandyal, Sunnipenta and Narasaraopet in Palnadu district. Works have already been completed at Araku and Nandyal and the centres are expected to become operational soon.

Civil works at Munchingiput are under the tender process, while construction and other works are in progress at Chintapalli and Anakapalli.

Seven five-bed Integrated NRCs are also being established in tribal areas at Addateegala and Y. Ramavaram in the Polavaram region, and Salur, Palakonda, Badagiri, Kurupam and Chinamerangi in Parvathipuram Manyam district. Addateegala and Y. Ramavaram centres are expected to be inaugurated shortly. In addition, six new 10-bed NRCs have been sanctioned for 2026-27 at Madanapalle, Chittoor, Rajamahendravaram, Machilipatnam, Hindupur and Tanuku, adding another 60 beds.

The government has allocated Rs 4.42 crore for NRC infrastructure, staff capacity building, ASHA incentives and maintenance during 2026-27. Another Rs 12.22 crore has been sanctioned annually towards human resources.

NRCs provide specialised medical care and nutritional support to children below five years suffering from SAM and associated medical complications. In 2024-25, 5,961 children were admitted and 5,878 recovered and were discharged, recording a recovery rate of 98.60 per cent. In 2025-26, 6,195 children were admitted and 6,168 recovered. From April to August 2026, 2,492 children were admitted and 2,462 recovered, registering a recovery rate of 98.80 per cent.