Araku undernourishment study aiding research to save kids

Undernutrition in adolescents and in children from one year to three years of age continues to be a major challenge in Araku Valley.

Children between the ages of one and three who were screened under the community initiative of the Asara tribal healthcare programme and undertaken by Piramal Foundation, were found to be in the severe and moderate acute undernutrition category.

Nutritionist Shweta Kurella, who works in the area says that women here continue to breastfeed their children till the age of two years and thus “they are not providing the nourishment that is required from one to three years. These children often fall sick and are severely anaemic.”

The green, yellow and red bars for nutrition which have now been set up in a few Araku habitats are helping researchers understand how much nutrition needs of people must be improved.

Millets, ragi, green leafy vegetables and fruits are cultivated in and around the region but these are sold in the open market.

The milk from the cows is not consumed as it is believed that it is for the calf and not for them.

The locals explained that their main source of food is the rice and dal provided in government ration shops. Nutrition is thus poor for both genders.

Anaemia is very common and most young girls are identified to be anaemic when they are pregnant.

The prevalence of stunting, underweight and wasting is as high as 51 per cent, 54.7 per cent and 21 per cent respectively according to a survey carried out by ICMR (Indian Council for Medical Reserach) in various tribal belts in India.

The death of children below five years of age due to under nutrition is as high as 53 per cent.

The cause of death in most cases is pneumonia, malaria and diarrhoea, according to data tabulated by ICMR from government data in all tribal regions of India.

With nutrition a major challenge, the work at the ground level is to bring about a behaviour change by making the tribals consume what they grow.

The foundation is working with community volunteers and trying to encourage consumption of millets, green leafy vegetables and fruits.