The Pioneer

The Manohar lal Khattar Government’s claim to boost health indicators has fallen flat as malnutrition among women and children remains abysmally high in Haryana.

The state nutrition factsheet released by Haryana Chief Minister Manohar lal on Thursday presents a dismal nutritional status of women and children.

As many as 71.1 percent children (6-59 months) have anaemia while 62.7 percent women and girls (age 15-49) are anaemic in the state, revealed the factsheet.

Referring to newborn and child health in Haryana, the government’s statistics stated that only 7 percent children (age 6-23 percent) are found to be receiving an adequate diet in the state.

34 percent children (under five years of age) are stunted (low height for age), the number of wasted (low weight for height) children stood at 21.2 percent, severely wasted are 9 percent and underweight children (under 5 years) are 29.4 percent, said the factsheet, which has been compiled after analyzing the data of District Health Information Software- 2 (2016-17) and NFHS- 4 (2015-16).

According to the data, 55 percent pregnant women (age 15-49 years) are anaemic, a crucial measure of poor nutrition. 63.1 percent non-pregnant women (age 15-49 years) are also found to be anaemic in the state.  Presenting poor adolescent health and nutritional status, it revealed that 62.7 percent girls (15-19 years) are anaemic while 29.7 percent boys in the same age group are anaemic in the state. While 36.6 percent girls (15-19 years) are undernourished, 30.6 percent boys in the same age group are stated to be undernourished.

Notably, Haryana Government has set a target to make the state anemia-free in next three years. Miss World Manushi Chillar, who hails from Haryana, has been made brand ambassador for “anemia free Haryana” campaign.

Struggling to combat high rate of malnutrition among children and pregnant women in the state, the government has proposed to set up a State level Board for consultation and stronger development of agri-food value chains in Haryana.

The government would also set up a State Nutrition Mission, an independent body committed to bringing about a reduction in maternal and child under-nutrition rates.  Under the State Nutrition Mission, about 2 lakh severally acute malnourished children will be covered throughout the state.

Among the high priority districts include Faridabad, Gurugram, Mewar, Palwal and Panipat in the state. 

In its multi-pronged strategy to deal with the problem of malnutrition, the Haryana Government has also planned improve inter-sectoral coordination, focus on monitoring and evaluation (MIS child tracking etc), partnerships and alliances with private sector among other initiatives.

At present, the state also has nine functional nutrition rehabilitation centres (NRCs), while two additional are being established this year. All NRCs are established in the district hospitals to look after the children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM). A total of 1050 and 1029 children were admitted in NRCs during fiscal year 2015-16 and 2016-17 respectively.