Dadeldhura, August 21

Various international and national non-governmental organisations, along with the Nepal government, are spending millions of rupees to control malnutrition in the hilly districts of Sudurpaschim Province every year. However, the number of malnourished children is on the rise in the province.

Targeting the hilly districts, nutrition rehabilitation centre was established on the premises of Dadeldhura Hospital two years ago. But, the centre could hardly do anything to reduce the number of malnourished children.

In fiscal 2017-18, 84 undernourished children were admitted to the centre. The number soared to 108 in 2018-19. Thirteen malnourished children were admitted to the centre in the first month of the current fiscal. Most of the malnourished children admitted to the nutrition rehabilitation centre are from Dadeldhura, Doti, Baitadi and Bajhang respectively.

Project Manager at the centre Kalpana Bhatta said the number of malnourished children was on the rise due to lack of awareness. “Most of the new mothers do not get to eat nutritious food in many hilly districts. So, they fail to breastfeed their children which leads to malnutrition among newborns,” Bhatta stated.

Far-western Health Directorate Information Officer Ramesh Malashi said lack of awareness among people had contributed to the increasing number of malnourished children in the province. Malashi stressed the need to establish a separate nutrition centre in  all hilly districts of the province.

Malnutrition is alarmingly high in most developing countries. According to Global Nutrition Report 2018, children under five years of age face multiple burdens: 150.8 million are stunted, 50.5 million are wasted and 38.3 million are overweight