Jumla sees gradual decline in malnutrition rate among children

JUMLA, July 15: Jumla district has witnessed a gradual decline in the malnutrition rate among children in recent years. 

According to the five-year data released by the District Health Office in Jumla, the malnutrition rate is decreasing across the district. 

As per the data for the year 2015, 10.6 percent children below one year were found under nourished, while it was 15.4 percent in case of children from one to two years and 12.7 percent children from birth up to two years. 

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Roughly 12.6 percent children below one year, 12.4 percent children from one to two years and 12.6 percent from birth up to two years were found suffering from malnutrition in the year 2016. 

Similarly, 10.9 percent children below one year were reported with malnutrition while 12.7 percent children from one to two years and 11.9 percent from birth up to two years were found to be suffering from malnutrition in the year 2017.

The data showed that some 7.2 percent children below one year were found suffering from malnutrition while 10.8 percent children from one to two years and 9 percent children from birth to two years were assessed to be in the state of malnutrition in the year 2018.

The percentage of such children below one year declined to 3.7 percent in the year 2019. Some 7.8 percent children from one to two years and 5.7 percent from birth up to two years were found to have multrinution in that year.

Public Health In-charge Krishna Prasad Sapkota shared that the health office had admitted and treated 65 children with malnutrition in 2015; 148 in 2016; 292 in 2017; 111 in 2018 and 83 in the year 2019.  "The number of such children admitted at the health office treatment this year is yet to come," he added. 

In order to reduce the state of malnutrition among women and children, the Federal Government, Karnali Provincial Government and the World Food Program have provided support to implement the 'Ama (Thousand Days Mother) program. The program has its coverage all across the districts in Karnali Province.