Ramechhap, October 23

Around 14 per cent of pregnant women have been suffering from malnutrition in Ramechhap district.

A recent data collected by District Health Office, Ramechhap showed of the 5,500 pregnant women in the district, 746 are malnourished. Public Health Inspector at the office Keshab Phuyal said almost all pregnant women lacked adequate blood in their body. “Around 10 per cent women lack blood during pregnancy as they are unaware of the required nutritious diet and don’t have access to health care services,” he added.

Statistics at the office showed that nine per cent children below the age of five years are suffering from malnutrition in the district. Phuyal said of total 21,000 children, as many as 1,890 kids are suffering from malnutrition in the district.

“The condition of kids below one year of age is normal, but most of the children below five years of age have been suffering from malnutrition in the district,” he informed.

Health workers of various health facilities in the district have urged the villagers to take their wards to the health centres for regular health check-up. Staffers at health facilities said pregnant women did not even come to receive the iron capsules that were distributed free of cost. They also urged all pregnant women to come for regular visits at the health

facilities.