Manthali, February 11

A nutrition programme to eradicate malnutrition in children launched in different VDCs of Ramechhap district has become largely successful, with almost all malnourished children successfully treated. The programme was launched with the help of UNICEF after the 2015 earthquakes. Children below five years old with malnutrition were identified and treated in the programme.

Dr Prakash Sah, chief of District Public Health Office, Ramechhap said of 156 extreme cases of malnutrition registered in children below five years, as many as 121 kids were treated and healed completely. He said 24 children were currently receiving treatment.

Tama Koshi Sewa Committee began an emergency  nutrition programme in the district after the earthquake. Director of  the organisation Govinda Prasad Ghimire said they had established  help centres in different VDCs, carried out health check-ups, and  provided nutritious food to the malnourished.

Similarly, of the 1,331 cases of children with rapid malnutrition, 843 children have been successfully treated. Programme Coordinator of Tama Koshi Sewa Committee, an NGO, Nidhu Dangal informed that 417 children were receiving regular treatment.

Dangal said 1,219 pregnant and new mothers have reached health facilities seeking treatment for malnutrition. “Of them, 766 women have been cured,” she informed.  The DPHO said as many as 400 pregnant and new mothers were receiving treatment for malnutrition in the district.