Severe Malnutrition Detected in 100,000 Children Among 1 Million Tested Nationwide

Under the government-run National Nutrition Survey Campaign, severe acute malnutrition has been identified in 18,309 children across the country. According to the Department of Health Services, the nutrition status of 1,035,201 children was assessed during the campaign. The highest number of children with severe acute malnutrition were found in Madhesh Province, totaling 8,380. Kathmandu, 30 Jestha.

Approximately 18,000 children have been found to suffer from severe acute malnutrition during the ‘National Nutrition Survey Campaign’ conducted by the government. The Ministry of Health and Food Hygiene launched this campaign to assess the nutritional conditions of children. Sharing the campaign statistics, Lilavikram Thapa, head of the Nutrition Division at the Department of Health Services, reported that 18,309 children were identified with severe acute malnutrition.

According to him, out of the 1,035,201 children evaluated during the campaign, 18,309 were severely malnourished. Additionally, 88,205 children were found to have moderate acute malnutrition, he added.

Severe acute malnutrition cases are highest in Madhesh Province with 8,380 affected children, followed by Lumbini Province with 3,015, Sudurpashchim Province with 1,758, Koshi Province with 1,590, Karnali Province with 1,503, Bagmati Province with 1,401, and Gandaki Province with 662. The severely malnourished children typically exhibit signs such as wasting and edema, he explained.