HETAUDA, Sept 13: As many as 23,194 children under the age of five suffer from malnutrition in Makwanpur district.
According to the District Public Health Office (DPHO), Makwanpur, 700 children suffer from acute malnutrition while 2,272 children have mid-stage malnutrition. Among the children with acute malnutrition, 500 are currently receiving treatment, according to the office.
43% Nepali children below five years are malnourished: UNICEF
“We found that 8,298 children are underweight while 11,924 children lack average height and weight,” said Bhim Sagar Guragain, the DPHO's public health inspector and contact person.
According to him, their research also found that 3,312 pregnant and new mothers are also suffering from malnutrition. In the course of the research, the DPHO had examined 30,600 children out of their total target of 38,000 children.
Ram Sharan Pathak, chief of the DPHO, informed that 16 health institutions have been assigned to treat children with acute malnutrition while 23 health institutions have been assigned to treat children with mid-stage malnutrition.
“A total of 539 children suffering from acute malnutrition have returned home after treatment while two children of rural Kakanda of the district died in the course of treatment,” said Pathak.
According to the DPHO, their research was conducted in March and April 2016.
