Admit malnourished kids: Health mission

JAIPUR: Taking note of low occupancy at malnutrition treatment centres in Rajasthan, the National Health Mission has directed the centres to conduct screening and admit malnourished children.

Malnutrition treatment centres (MTCs) have been established to provide care to children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM).

NHM issued the order this week after noticing that MTCs in the state have reported 12% average bed occupancy during April-May.

There are 40 MTCs in Rajasthan, out of which not a single malnourished child was admitted in 14 MTCs, stated a letter issued by the NHM director. A total of 344 children were admitted at 40 MTCs

“Hence, it is directed to ensure that children with SAM are screened and admitted for treatment,” the order stated.

In Rajasthan, 40.9% children under five years are underweight and 44.4% are anaemic, according to the Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey conducted between 2016 to 2018. The survey report also revealed that 26% children aged 5-9 years and 36.8% aged 10-19 years are underweight in the state.

The letter was marked to superintendents of medical colleges in Ajmer, Bikaner, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Jhalawar, Kota and Udaipur, principal medical officers in Baran, Dungarpur, Jodhpur and Rajsamand, and chief medical and health officer of Alwar.

In view of the Covid pandemic, NHM had directed that special precautionary steps be taken for the children admitted at MTCs and nutrition rehabilitation centres (NRCs).

MTCs have been set up in district hospitals of Tonk, Dholpur, Jaisalmer, Baran, Kota, Dungarpur, Pratapgarh; Kanwatia and JK Lon hospitals in Jaipur; Rajgarh in Alwar; Paota in Jodhpur; SRG hospital in Jhalawar; RK government and SDH hospitals in Rajsamand.

Over a dozen centres have on an average two to four children. But there was 84% bed occupancy at MTC in Udaipur, where four children died, the letter stated.

A majority of the children admitted at the MTCs were those who came for a checkup at hospitals and doctors found them suffering from SAM. In addition, there were some found during health surveys by ASHA (accredited social health activist).

Jan Swasthya Abhiyan convener Chhaya Pancholi said the enrolment of children at MTCs was low even before the lockdown because the manner the children should be identified in the villages is not being done.

“Even if the children are identified, convincing the parents to take them to an MTC is challenging as it’s away from their villages. Parents are reluctant to send their children to MTCs as their work suffers because the children have to stay for days for treatment,” Pancholi said.

She said during lockdown, anganwadi centres were closed and the regular process of identification and recording vital stats got stalled. “

Earlier also, MTCs were never the priority and during lockdown the situation worsened,” she added.