Number of malnourished children rises in Helmand

LASHKARGAH (Pajhwok): Over 21,000 children suffering from malnutrition registered in southern Helmand province in the first four months of the ongoing year, an official said on Wednesday.

Last year, over 16,000 children suffered from malnutrition were registered during the same period.

Dr. Yar Mohammad Nasiri, head of the Malnutrition Section of Helmand Health Department, told Pajhwok Afghan News the number of children suffering from malnutrition had surged this year comparing to the past year.

“In January, February, March months last year 16,991 children suffered from malnutrition were registered while this year over 21,464 children suffering from malnutrition had been registered during the same period.”

He, however, said enough health centres providing malnutrition treatment were functional in the province.

He said: “Six-bed health centres are available in Musa Kala, Gereshk, Garamseer and Lashkargah, in addition, 179 clinics were available in districts where 13,000 children suffering from malnutrition had been registered in June and provided with treatment.”

According to Nasiri in last year, 50,000 children had been provided with malnutrition treatment while 20 children have died.

“We distribute food to around 25,000 mothers in order to ensure that mothers feeding their infants get adequate food.”

He asked people to pay attention to the foods of their children in order to protect them from malnutrition.

Some people who hospitalized their children at the Malnutrition Ward of Bost Hospital said economic problem was the reason behind the malnutrition of their children.

Haji Mohammad Lal, the resident of Gereshk district, said: “I have hospitalized a five year old child here from the past six days, we are not able to provide proper food to our children due to economic hardship.”

Mawlavi Mohammadullah, the resident of Nad Ali Shana village, said due to poverty most of the children suffered from malnutrition.

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