SLWC disturbed over survey on child nutrition

The Sri Lanka Women's Conference (SLWC) is disturbed with the findings of the Demographic and Health Survey 2007, which has been published in the website of the Department of Census and Statistics.

The results of this survey show that the nutritional status of our children below five years seems to be worse than it was five years ago, when a similar survey was carried out in the year 2000. It is well-known that children below five years of age are the best reflection of the nutritional status of the general population.

According to the findings of this survey stunting or short height is 18%, a 4% increase from the last survey. Also 16% or one in six children are too thin. What is most worrying though is the fact that the percentage of children who are born below the required birth weight of 2.5 kg seem to be stagnant.

It is well-known that the outcome of pregnancy is a reflection of the low nutritional status of the mother. The SLWC is concerned that this situation will further deteriorate with the escalating cost of living during the past year, after the survey. As it is well-known when any crisis occurs, women and children are the worst affected.

The Sri Lanka Women's Conference as the oldest and largest umbrella of women's organisations, urges the government to make concerted effort to arrest this situation and to put in place a multi pronged initiative to improve the nutritional status of especially women and children and the general population as a whole.