Launch of National Nutrition Month

by Lalin FERNANDOPULLE

The low consumption of fruits and vegetables has contributed to nutrition deficiency among Sri Lankans, said Director, Enterprise Development, Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. D.B.T. Wijeratne at a ceremony to launch the National Nutrition Month-June 2010.

He said the prices and misconceptions about the nutritional value of fruits and vegetables have contributed to the low intake causing health hazards to many.

The per capita consumption of vegetables had increased from 37.4 kilograms in 2004 to 41.2 kilograms in 2008 and the intake of fruits had risen from 14.4 kilograms to 27.1 kilograms during the same period.

"The increase in consumption is marginal compared to other countries which consume large quantities", Dr. Wijeratne said.

"Beans, brinjal and carrot have the same nutritional value though the prices vary. The price variation among fruits and vegetables has created a misconception resulting in the low intake of nutritious food", he said.

Many buy imported fruits assuming that they are more nutritious than the locally produced. People prefer to buy apples instead of papaws which are more expensive.

Poor dietary habits such as more rice than vegetables, bread with gravy, hoppers with chili paste, food from outlets and the popular fried rice have to be rectified for sound health.

Despite many programs launched by the Ministry of Health and Nutrition at schools there is no progress in the health of children. Around 0.38 million children under five years of age are stunted and 0.4 million of the same age are underweight.

Head, Department of Nutrition Medical Research Institute, Ministry of Healthcare and Nutrition, Dr. Renuka Jayatissa said "currently 4 million people in Sri Lanka are anaemic, one in five living a less productive life."

According to the Medical Research Institute nearly 1.3 million women aged 15-49 are overweight or obese. Nuwara Eliya district has the most number of underweight (over 35 percent of the population) while Jaffna has the least (15 percent).

Colombo is among districts which has a high percentage of underweight (around 20 percent).

Lack of iron, iodine and vitamin A are major micronutrient deficiencies in Sri Lanka.

Assessing the nutrition status of adolescents regularly, setting up meeting points to offer services to non-school going adolescents and creating a good nutrition enabling environment in schools are key measures to address the nutrition deficiency in the country.