Alarming malnutrition, neo=natal mortality in Madhya Pradesh: NFHS 4

BHOPAL: More than 40 out of 100 children in Madhya Pradesh are malnourished if the latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS) is anything to go by. Besides, MP has been registering the highest infant mortality rates in the country for almost a decade and currently 51 infants out of 1000 don't get to celebrate their first birthday.
NHFS 4, released for 13 states and 2 UTs paints a grim picture for the state where children are already reeling under acute malnutrition and high infant mortality.
As per an analysis by voluntary organisation Child Rights and You (CRY), 'the latest data shows that more than 40% children under the age of 5 are stunted (low height for weight) while 42.8% children below 5 are underweight. The percentage of children who are wasted (low weight for age) has come down from 35 to 25.8% but the number is still considered very high by WHO standards.'
Stung by the high levels of malnutrition, one of the highest in the country, in the previous NFHS 3 survey the state had launched several initiatives to contain malnutrition including the Atal child health and nutrition mission. It also commissioned a comprehensive district wise NIN (National Institute of Nutrition) survey in 2010.
Meanwhile, only 18% infants receive health check-up within two days of birth. With a huge number of newborns dying within the first 24 hours of birth immediate health checkups must be prioritized at all district levels.
50% of the state's children have not received full immunization needed for prevention of critical preventable diseases. The state in 2014 has renewed its campaign on vaccination through mission Indradhanush and this should hopefully tilt the figures in the state's favor in the next survey. Moreover the percentage of children below two years of age receiving both breast milk and solid- semi solid food stands at a dismal 6.6%.
Soha Moitra, regional director (North), says, "The NHFS is not just a reflection of the state of health and nutritional well-being of children but it also provides direction for corrective measures in state policies and programmes. For MP, the data so released not only highlights the extremely slow pace of progress vis a vis child care and health but also reinforces the need to address nutritional security of children as an emergency."
"In context of malnutrition, strengthening of Anganwadi Centres and a robust system of growth monitoring, becomes imperative," she added.
Source: NFHS 4
Neo natal mortality rate (out of 1,000 live births)
Madhya Pradesh - 51
Bihar - 48
Uttarakhand - 40
Haryana - 33
West Bengal - 27
Source: NFHS 4