Number of malnourished children 31pc up in Baghlan

PUL-I-KHUMRI (Pajhwok): The Public Health Department of northern Baghlan province says about 19,000 malnourished children were treated in the province during the last six months.

In exclusive interview with Pajhwok Afghan News, Dr. Abdul Rahman Alfat, head of malnutrition at the Department of Public Health, said the number of children with malnutrition had increased by 31 percent compared to last six months of last year.

He said about 14,483 malnourished children were taken to health centres of the province during the same period last year.

More than 5,000 of them were diagnosed with severe malnutrition and discharged after received treatment, he explained.

About 18,987 children were diagnosed with malnutrition in last six months this year, showing a 31 percent increase but the number of children with severe malnutrition has significantly decreased, the official continued.

He did not provide information about reasons behind the surge in malnutrition among children in the province, but health experts say that poverty, lack of regular food system and not breastfeeding children are main causes of this disease.

Hanzala, a mother whose twin children have been hospitalized in Pul-i-Khumri civil hospital, says that she did not know what diseases her children have, but doctors have assured her that their condition will get better.

Robina, another mother whose 10-years old daughter was hospitalized two days ago, said the doctors had told her that her daughter was suffering from malnutrition and had lost weight.

kk/ma