National Nutrition Assessment Campaign Launched in Siraha, Nutritional Status of 60,000 Children to be Evaluated

April 29, Siraha – A ‘National Nutrition Assessment Campaign’ has been launched in Siraha to identify the nutritional status of children. This campaign is being conducted across all 17 municipalities in Siraha district as part of a nationwide initiative, aiming primarily to improve child nutrition.

The campaign has been initiated by the Dalit Development Forum Golbazar with financial support from Helen Keller International and in collaboration with local municipalities under the ‘Nutrition for Life Program’.

The campaign focuses on assessing the nutrition of mothers in the crucial ‘golden thousand days’ as well as their children. According to the executive director of the forum, the assessment involves measuring children’s height, weight, and mid-upper arm circumference to determine their nutritional status. The target is to screen the nutrition of approximately 60,000 children aged between around 6 months to 59 months, along with about 14,000 mothers.

Scheduled to run from April 28 to May 13, the campaign aims to promptly identify malnutrition and facilitate timely treatment. During this period, female community health volunteers, in coordination with nearby health institutions, will visit homes to measure children’s arm circumference. Additionally, severely malnourished children will be provided with free ready-to-use therapeutic food through outpatient services.

As per the Government of Nepal’s plan, the campaign will also be implemented at health facilities, immunization centers, community clinics, ward offices, community buildings, and early childhood development centers.