One in 4 anganwadi kids are malnourished

A recent survey has suggested that one among every four anganwadi kids is underweight and suffering from malnutrition. These disturbing facts came to light in the survey conducted by the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) of the Women and Child Welfare Department. The entire city was divided into five projects to conduct the study. Of the 812 severely malnourished children, 416 students belonged to Project-I, which covers Saidabad, Bandlaguda, Amberpet, Charminar and other places.

It was found that on an average, these children are 5 to 10 kg less than the standard weight for the particular age group. “About 24,439 children are suffering from malnutrition as against the 1.06 lakh students whose age and weight were recorded at 940 anganwadi centres that are being operated in the twin cities,” an ICDS official said. “In order to provide nutritious food to the children, pregnant women and new mothers, the government is supplying 125 gm of rice, 30 gm of toor dal, 200 ml of milk and one egg per day.

Every month, 16 eggs are being provided to children. Besides that, instant food or Balamrutham is also being provided to children,” the officer added. Citing reasons for the poor health of students anganwadi teacher R Laxmi said, “The food is served but children hardly eat anything. Either they don’t like it or they throw it away for some reason.” However National Institute of Nutrition scientists feel that the poor health among the anganwadi children can also be attributed to lack of mother’s milk.

They say that most of the children at the centre belong to the weaker sections of the society and that the parents are not educated about the importance of mother’s milk. “A mother must feed her child within one hour of the delivery and it helps children improve immunity. 60 per cent of mothers don’t follow this practice. 50 per cent children are attacked by infections only because of pre-lacteal feed like water, sugar, water and others.

Breast feeding must be exclusive for six months and introduction of hard food is necessary after that”, said Dr A Laxman, senior deputy director, National Institute of Nutrition. “Anganwadi workers should create awareness among mothers by measuring the weight of children every month but this is absent. Majority of these parents who leave their kids at anganwadis leave for work in the morning and return only in the evening. This is another reason that many choose not to send their wards to the centers as its timings of 9 am to 2 pm are not suitable for them,” he added.