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| Sunday, 26 October 2003 |
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Malnutrition rampant in North-East : One in four children 'stunted' Schoolchildren in conflict-affected areas of Sri Lanka suffer from alarming levels of malnutrition, with one in four being "stunted" or too short for their age, according to a study released today by the United Nations World Food Programme. The results of this first nutritional survey undertaken in Sri Lanka's former war zones enables WFP to tailor an appropriate food aid response to the problem of malnutrition in the country. The WFP survey found that nearly one in three children is "wasted" or far too thin for their height, in the north and east of the island nation where a civil war was fought for nearly 20 years. In these areas, malnutrition levels are at least twice as high as the national average. "The data shows that malnutrition levels are much higher than even we expected," said Jeff Taft-Dick, WFP Country Director for Sri Lanka. "Clearly, action is needed now to address these problems and prevent long-term, debilitating disorders". WFP undertook the study to identify key nutrition-related problems among schoolchildren before launching a meals-in-school programme in the conflict-affected areas in August. The survey will also provide baseline data for an assessment next year to measure the impact of the WFP mid-morning meals on the children. To gather the data, nutrition specialists examined 465 children between five and seven years of age in Grades 1 and 2 during July and August this year. They weighed and measured the height of the children and took blood samples to assess potential iron deficiency. The specialists also visited the children's homes to record the quality and quantity of their food intake over a 24-hour period. According to the study, 30 per cent of the children surveyed are wasted compared to the national average of 15 per cent. The rate for stunting was 26 per cent compared to 17 per cent at the national level. Underweight children constitute 50 per cent of the study group compared to 30 per cent nationwide. In the study group, 40 per cent of the children have anemia compared to 16 per cent across the country. The WFP survey also indicates that girls receive only 69 percent, and boys 71 per cent, of the energy requirement of 1,750 and 1,850 kilocalories (respectively) a day recommended by the Sri Lanka Health Ministry. The children consume only 16 percent of the Vitamin A requirement under the ministry's "Recommended Dietary Allowances", among other micronutrients, calcium intake is 60 per cent, niacin 79 per cent and Vitamin C 89 per cent of the recommended allowance. |
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