Flood-hit areas in Punjab Infants at risk of worst malnutrition: report

Source: Daily Dawn

Date: February 04, 2011

LAHORE, Feb 3: Infants are particularly at risk of worst malnutrition in flood-affected districts of Punjab and malnourished children are likely to be from families of the poorest quintile, living in temporary or kacha houses, and those who have bank liability. This was revealed by speakers at the launching ceremony of Nutrition Survey Report on flood-affected areas of Punjab held under the auspices of the Punjab Planning and Development Department at a local club on Thursday.

According to the report, poor sanitation, unhygienic practices and lack of access to services are aggregating factors in malnutrition.

The global malnutrition rate among children under five in flood-hit areas is 13.9 per cent while the rate of acute malnutrition — associated with highest rates of morbidity is 3.5 per cent. More than 60 per cent households are living in `kacha` (houses with mud or thatched wall) while the rest is in cemented structures.

The report says efforts should be made to reduce the high rate of chronic malnutrition and to improve the knowledge of the communities about the Infant Young Child Feeding (IYCF).

Results of the survey, conducted in November 2010 by P&D`s Bureau of Statistics, in collaboration with Unicef and Action Contre la Faim Canada (ACF-Canada), were shared with stakeholders at the ceremony attended by secretaries of the social sector departments, programme managers of various PMUs, DCOs of nine districts and representatives of donor agencies and NGOs. The academia was represented by KEMU, FJMC, LUMS, LSE and Punjab University.

A blueprint of the response plan prepared by the provincial health department for the flood-affected communities was also shared in which it was pointed out that since the onset of the floods in Punjab, the government in collaboration with Unicef and the nutrition cluster had screened more than 211,000 children for malnutrition in flooded areas.

For more details: http://www.dawn.com/2011/02/04/flood-hit-areas-in-punjab-infants-at-risk-of-worst-malnutrition-report.html