Govt expands nutrition rehab cover for children

Patna: State health minister Mangal Pandey on Monday announced that children with moderate acute malnutrition (MAM), along with medical complications, will now be admitted to the nutrition rehabilitation centre. This step has been taken to tackle the issue of malnutrition in the state, as timely treatment and nutritional support will help in curbing the health condition.Until now, only children suffering from severe acute malnutrition (SAM) with medical complications were admitted to nutrition rehabilitation centres. Pandey said moderately acute malnourished children often have rickets, anaemia, vitamin deficiency, or other medical complications. Due to this, they are at a higher risk of converting to SAM. Health institutions at all levels and within the community will screen and identify MAM children with medical complications and refer them to nutrition rehabilitation centres. Necessary and effective steps will be taken to strengthen improvements in nutritional status, essential diet, weight gain, and reduction in the infection rate of children admitted to rehabilitation centres. This will contribute significantly to reducing deaths and diseases caused by malnutrition in children below 5 years of age, he said.There are a total of 41 NRCs operational in the state.Pandey further said, based on guidelines issued by the ministry of health and family welfare, MAM-related instructions have been sent to all medical colleges and district health societies. MAM children with medical complications will be admitted to nutrition rehabilitation centres, and their progress reports will be provided to the department monthly.