KATHMANDU: The April 25 earthquake and its subsequent aftershocks have triggered changes in food consumption patterns among the survivors.

The key findings of Post Disaster Needs Assessment published by the National Planning Commission on Tuesday warned that these changes were bound to have implications with regard to the nutritional status of the affected population, particularly children and women. This situation may be further exacerbated in the case of Dalit communities whose food sufficiency level is the lowest among all, according to PDNA.

According to the findings, the combination of cultural norms (women and girls eat last in the family) and the impact of the disasters on food security and nutrition could be detrimental to women, particularly pregnant and lactating mothers. “Food supplements should be provided to pregnant women to reduce malnutrition and anaemia as well as to act as an incentive for women to visit pre-natal clinics. Targeted nutrition programmes for the elderly and Dalit children, pregnant and lactating mothers and senior citizens are also essential,” the report suggested.

Undernutrition has been a longstanding problem in Nepal. The key indicators of child undernutrition such as stunted growth and wasting currently stand at 37.5 per cent and 11.3 per cent respectively at the national level. The most recent pre-earthquake data collated from the 2014 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) and the 2014 Small Area Estimation (SAE) indicates a high rate of child undernutrition in the affected districts. Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices were also found to be sub-optimal in those districts.

Recovery activities have been proposed to address the immediate as well as longer term needs of the people affected by the earthquakes. Supplementary food assistance and Multiple Micronutrient Powder (MNP) supplementation to the vulnerable groups has been planned for the initial year.

These activities will be carried out in conjunction with routine nutrition services provided by the health system, homestead food production, enhanced education and counselling on optimal Maternal Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN), management of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM), efforts to promote increase in production as well as utilisation of nutrient-rich agriculture, including livestock products and capacity enhancement, all of which will continue as medium and longterm recovery measures.

Nutrition assessments and monitoring are also being planned to monitor and guide the interventions. The total budget estimate for this is Rs 5 billion.

Special efforts will be made to work through community leaders and Health Facility Management Committees as well as FCHVs to ensure that the most vulnerable groups like the Dalits and female-headed households, among others, are included.