Over 21% of children malnourished
By Ruwan Laknath Jayakody
September 5, 2014
The countrywide percentage of malnutrition among children had risen to 21.1% from 17.3% in the past decade, the Ministry of Health said.
Deputy Minister of Health, Lalith Dissanayake explained that statistics showed a rise in malnutrition across the country in the period 2000 to 2009.
"This is not only in the Moneragala District in the Uva Province, where undernourishment is prevalent, but everywhere. In 2000, the percentage of malnourishment was 18.4%.
The reduced or low-birth-weight rate is 22.8%; in comparison with other Asian countries it is better. In the period 1977 to 1978, 50.4% of children were malnourished, while 49.8% of babies born were under weight" the deputy minister said.
A completely different phenomenon on malnutrition is seen in the Gampaha District as over-nutrition was recorded.
He added that in 2012, the percentage of low growth, due to malnutrition, in the Nuwara Eliya District was 23.8%, Kalutara District 6.8%, Puttalam District 14% and Kilinochchi District 35.9%.
"This sad situation is mostly a result of ignorance and it is very high in Kilinochchi because of the war," Dissanayake pointed out.
The government was directly spending
Rs 4.5 billion, and was aided by the United Nations Children's Fund indirectly, amounting to Rs 100 billion. All this was used on programmes on rational nutrition, joint maternal and child health, at provincial levels, food protection and donation and nutrition at school. Also, on nutrition for pregnant women and on feeding children below the age of five, the Deputy Minister added.
A Rajapaksa Front Company Investment US$ 7.0 billion
By Ruwan Laknath Jayakody
September 5, 2014
The countrywide percentage of malnutrition among children had risen to 21.1% from 17.3% in the past decade, the Ministry of Health said.
Deputy Minister of Health, Lalith Dissanayake explained that statistics showed a rise in malnutrition across the country in the period 2000 to 2009.
"This is not only in the Moneragala District in the Uva Province, where undernourishment is prevalent, but everywhere. In 2000, the percentage of malnourishment was 18.4%.
The reduced or low-birth-weight rate is 22.8%; in comparison with other Asian countries it is better. In the period 1977 to 1978, 50.4% of children were malnourished, while 49.8% of babies born were under weight" the deputy minister said.
A completely different phenomenon on malnutrition is seen in the Gampaha District as over-nutrition was recorded.
He added that in 2012, the percentage of low growth, due to malnutrition, in the Nuwara Eliya District was 23.8%, Kalutara District 6.8%, Puttalam District 14% and Kilinochchi District 35.9%.
"This sad situation is mostly a result of ignorance and it is very high in Kilinochchi because of the war," Dissanayake pointed out.
The government was directly spending
Rs 4.5 billion, and was aided by the United Nations Children's Fund indirectly, amounting to Rs 100 billion. All this was used on programmes on rational nutrition, joint maternal and child health, at provincial levels, food protection and donation and nutrition at school. Also, on nutrition for pregnant women and on feeding children below the age of five, the Deputy Minister added.
