Measures to tackle dwarfism

Disna Mudalige

About 17.3 percent of the country’s child population have become victims of the malnutrition condition known as dwarfism or stunting, according to Health Ministry statistics by the end of 2010, said Ministry Acting Secretary Dr P G Mahipala.

The government has taken measures to tackle this problem by identifying the districts where severe malnutrition prevails and has implemented nutrition rehabilitation programmes in such districts.

All the districts in Northern and Eastern Provinces, Hambantota, Moneragala, Badulla and Nuwara Eliya are covered by these programmes.

Under these programmes, pharmaceutical food as well as supplementary food such as Thriposha, corn, soya flour and high nutritious food are being provided for children suffering from medium and severe malnutrition.

The government has also facilitated special treatment in hospital for these children.

The Health Ministry, has also implemented and amalgamated nutrition programmes for different stages of the life-cycle.

Under this programme nutrition of youths, women before marriage, pregnant and lactating mothers are promoted to reduce low weight births.

The nutrition levels of infants and preschool children are also promoted to reduce malnutrition.

A special programme is also being implemented to identify nutrition deficiencies of children below the age of five.

Thriposha, micro nutrients, extra doses of vitamin A, iron and folic acid tablets are given to them.

In addition a Child Development Record is also issued to every new born child to assess the child’s health and nutrition condition.

Instructions are also given to mothers to only breast feed during the first six months of a child and maintain breast feeding up to two years, Dr Mahipala said.