152 malnourished children identified in Baitadi in five days during nutrition screening campaign

Baitadi: A total of 152 malnourished children have been identified in Baitadi within the last five days. Among them, 19 children are found to be severely malnourished, according to the Baitadi Health Office.

As part of the National Nutrition Assessment Campaign being conducted in the district from April 15 to 30, health screenings of around 22,000 children aged between 6 months and 5 years are being carried out. During the campaign, high levels of malnutrition have been observed in various locations.

According to Khagendra Karki, Information Officer at the Baitadi Health Office, four severely malnourished children alone have been identified in Sigas Rural Municipality-2, Ganjri. The process of bringing them for treatment and providing nutritional support has already begun.

Karki said that poverty is the main cause of most malnutrition cases. Sigas Rural Municipality is considered one of the poorest local levels in the country, with a poverty rate of more than 66 percent.

He added that it would be difficult to address the problem unless the cycle between poverty and malnutrition is broken. Malnourished children are found to have issues with weight and height according to age, as well as poor physical development.

It has also been made public that around 37 percent of malnourished children identified during the campaign belong to the Dalit community. Last year, there were 1,934 malnourished children in the district, of whom 312 severely malnourished cases received treatment through health institutions.

Health officials stated that the campaign alone would not be sufficient and that local levels need a long-term strategy to reduce poverty and expand access to nutritious food.

Health workers further said that after the closure of the previously operating Suahara program, additional challenges have emerged in improving the nutrition of pregnant women and children.