Patrapur: Malnutrition has assumed alarming proportions in tribal-dominated interior remote villages of Patrapur block in Ganjam district.
As per a recent study by the health department, as many as 157 children suffered from malnutrition.
The study was conducted in remote backward villages of Patrapur block from June to September. The villages are under seven blocks — Sanakhemundi, Sorada, Patrapur, Dharakote, Polasara, Bhanjanagar and Digapahandi of Ganjam district.
Around 120 camps were held where blood test and hemoglobin of pregnant women, minor children was examined. Moreover, the health team examined the weight, height and body measurements of children in the camp.
Shockingly, the officials found around 164 children suffering from malnutrition with low weight compared to their age. The condition of most was stated to be critical requiring immediate treatment, a senior official said.
Out of the 164, 157 are from Patrapur block, while the other seven are from Sanakhemundi block, he added. On the other hand, many were found suffering from anaemia, the reports said adding that the condition of 37 was serious while another 3,618 were suffering from malaria.
The officials suggested that low literacy rate among tribal women is the leading cause of malnutrition of newborns. On the other hand, poor quality health service, awful state of Anganwadi centres and alleged starvation deaths are some of the major concerns in the tribal villages.
To overcome the problem, the administration is focusing on malnutrition related complications among children. The administration plans to create awareness on health and nutrition among mothers, vaccination and breast-feeding promotion.
The children affected by malnutrition would be placed under treatment in special wards at Berhampur City Hospital, Bhanjanagar sub-divisional hospital and Aska Community Health Centre (CHC).
From March 2017 to April 2018, a total of 504 children have been treated for malnutrition, reports said adding that out of them 124 were from Aska, 166 from Bhanjanagar and 214 from Berhampur.
Locals blamed the rising number of malnutrition, anaemia and other malaria-related deaths to non-development in tribal villages. Lack of proper communication, non-availability of nutritional diet to expectant mothers and poor quality food at Anganwadi centres are aggravating the situation. Moreover, health officials are not keen to visit tribal villages due to lack of motorable roads.
What makes the scenario worse is that Anganwadi supervisors are not inspecting the Anganwadi centres periodically. Awareness programmes do not reach the beneficiaries as little or no effort is made at the administrative level. In view of the grim situation, a separate master plan is needed to tackle the situation, a tribal resident said.
PNN