MALNUTRITION IN FLOOD AFFECTEES

the rate of severe acute malnutrition associated with a morbidity rate of 3.5 percent, reveals a nutrition survey report issued by the Punjab government’s Planning and Development Department  Today. The survey was conducted by the Bureau of Statistics, and Planning and Development Department in collaboration with UNICEF and ACF, Planning and Development Board chief economist, Dr Rizwan Taqi, quoting the survey report, said that more than 60 percent households were living in ‘katcha’ (houses with mud or thatched wall) while the rest were in ‘pakka’ (houses made of concrete and cement walls). He said that majority of the people were taking cereals, wheat, oil and sugar for more than 5-6 days a week but the consumption of meat, fruits and vegetables was extremely low. P&D Secretary, Ali Tahir, said that the aim of survey was to assess the nutritional status of children between 6 months to six years, pregnant and lactating women. He said the report revealed that there was a dire need for reinforcing and integrating community based programmes to address child and maternal malnutrition in the flood-affected areas. Punjab Bureau of Statistics Director General, Shamim Rafiq, said that flooded areas in the province were divided into two categories, moderately affected areas and severely affected areas. The severely affected districts are Dera Ghazi Khan, Layyah, Muzaffargarh and Rajanpur. He said that 1,200 households were surveyed in these districts. UNICEF representative from Sri Lanka, Dr S.M Moazzam, said that the survey recommended that an integrated and targeted plan should be executed to improve the knowledge about infant and child feeding practices, and improve access to and knowledge of basic hygiene, sanitation and health services for affected communities.