Polash Islam, a only one and half years old boy, was admitted to Borolekha upazila health complex in Moulvibazar district with severe malnutrition a few days ago. His weight is just six and half kilograms at the time when it was supposed to be nine to 10-kg. Even his height is not much for his age.
Polash’s mother Saima said that he was not taking enough food for the last couple of days. He was just crying and crying. He looked so tired that prompted her to get Polash admitted to the health complex for treatment. Mother of four children Saima said she was married off at the age of only 16 years. She has more three daughters and they are healthy. But her son was born with less weight.
Like Polash, Rafiza was also admitted to another health complex of Moulvibazar district four months back. Two-year-old Rafiza was only 6.7-kg when she was admitted to the hospital.
Rafiza’s mother Sumaiya said her daughter was suffering from severe malnutrition since her early age. She was born with only 1.5 kg weight. Four months ago, she was admitted to the health complex. After five days of treatment, the doctors released Rafiza with prescribing some medicines. Now, her weight has increased a little bit and she is now 9.03-kg. But she was not as taller as her age, Sumaiya continued. According to the registers of health complexes and other hospitals and clinics in Sylhet and Moulvibazar districts, a good number of children were admitted to different hospitals with acute malnutrition and less height for last few months.
Experts said the United Nations (UN) attached importance to nutrition to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As per the SDG-2, making hunger free society, achieving food security and removing malnutrition are must. So, the government should give more importance on the issue of malnutrition, they added.
Child specialists Dr Saidur Rahman Shohag said many mother are not conscious about feeding their children from the very first day of birth to two years. Even, they are not aware that how essential the nutrition is for their babies from their pregnancy period to two years of child birth. According to a UNICEF survey, conducted in 2013, low educated mother and their socio-economic hardship are blamed for their children’s malnutrition. Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) 2014 reveled that the percentage of dwarf children aged between one to five years is 36 while it was 41 percent in 2011, 43 percent in 2007 and 51 percent in 2004. As per the report, the percentage of dwarf children is found higher in Sylhet division which was 49.6 percent in 2014.
Dr Saidur said adequate nutrition is needed for the overall development of children. Otherwise, they will suffer mentally. Lake of proper awareness of parents and early marriages are the main reasons behind the malnutrition of children.
Department of Family Planning Director of nutrition Dr Mohammad Younus said the ratio of malnutrition is decreasing.
“There is ‘Pusti Corner’ (nutrition corner) in every upazila health complex across the country. Besides, our field-level employees are advising parents as well about the nutrition of children and mother,” he added.
