BAMYAN (PajhwoK): The number of malnourished children has more than doubled in central Bamyan province this year compared to the previous year, an official said on Tuesday.
Mohammad Jamal Alavi, an official of the Public Health Department, told Pajhwok Afghan News about 11,118 children suffering from malnutrition were registered in the first six months of 2022 in the province.
But their number increased to 23,039 during the first six months of the current year, showing more than a two-fold increase, he added.
He said 20,156 children suffered from moderate malnutrition and 2,883 from severe malnutrition in the province.
The number of malnourished children is increasing in all districts, including Bamyan city, but officials consider the increase in their in Waras district concerning.
Malka Mohammadi, head of nutrition at Waras district hospital, told Pajhwok the increase in the number of malnourished children in the district was concerning.
She said from January to June 2022, about 2,389 malnourished children were registered in the district, while during the first six months of 2023, this number rose to 6,146, tripled compared to past year.
Health experts say children suffer from malnutrition if they do not receive enough nutrients.
Dr. Ali Jan Rafat, a pediatrician, said that malnutrition occurs when a person's diet does not provide vitamins and nutrients his/her body needs or does not provide right balance to ensure a person's health.
He said malnutrition was caused by both low intake of food and excessive consumption of unbalanced food.
He added that improper nutrition, lack of full access to necessary substances, various physical and mental conditions, poor economic situation and low income were among most important causes of malnutrition among children.
Improper nutrition can cause various complications in children, including growth disorder, lack of weight or weight loss, he said.
He asked health officials and parents to pay attention to preventing malnutrition and raising awareness about healthy diet for children that can meet all necessary and required nutrients of child’s body.
However, an official of the Public Health Department, said there were 114 health centers in Bamyan province providing nutrition services, including five hospitals in the provincial capital and Yakawlang, Waras and Panjab districts where children with severe malnutrition were hospitalized and provided treatment.
He added in order to prevent and treat malnutrition in children, in addition to establishing and upgrading four health centers in Waras and Panjab districts, the Bamyan Public Health Department has trained 393 people as nutritional consultants and informants in the community to provide information and Inform people how to prevent malnutrition in children.
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