The United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) has chosen Palakkad as a high priority district,followedby Wayanad and Malappuram in the state, to implement its Call to Action plan to addresschild mortality and maternal issues in the wake of Attapadi malnutrition deaths. The agency plans to take the programme forward after a meeting with the state government officials on June21. “The Unicef has identified Palakkad as a high priority district’ to address the maternal health issues and child mortality following the child malnutrition deaths reported in Attapadi recently,” UNICEF chief for Tamil Nadu and Kerala Dr Satish Kumar said. Wayanad and Malappuram will be the other two districts in thestate. The government of India will be the lead development partners to implement the call to action plan withthesupport of thestate government. The UN has specified million development goals (MDGs) for each country and the south Indian states have achieved the target set. Surprisingly, incidents of still child and maternal mortality are reported in these states and it could be due to various reasons such as lack of proper nutrition and health, said Unicef official Sugata Roy. “And it cannot be left aside only because these states have achievedMDGtargets.” The Call to Action plan, aimed at addressing issues of child mortality, health, nutrition, water and sanitation facilities in these districts, will be implemented by coordinating various departments in thestate. Social welfare minister M KMuneer saidhisdepartment would take up the measures based on the Unicef study report on Attapadi, which is expected in twoweeks. “TheUnicef plan will provide the required support to Attapadi in addition to the promised Central aid. Morefunds areexpected from Nabard to implement initiatives to ensure nutritional and health standards of children and women in the tribalhamlet,” hesaid.