Jharkhand: 150 Gumla kids found with severe acute malnutrition

GUMLA: As many as 150 children examined during the ongoing health drive, launched on September 1, are found to be suffering from ‘Severe Acute malnutrition’ (SAM)) in Gumla district, district health officials said.

They have been moved to ‘Malnutrition Treatment Centres’ (MTCs) in sadar hospital and community health centres (CHC) in Raidih, Bishunpur, and Sisai blocks. Around 34 in sadar hospital, 27 in Raidih CHC, 11 in Bishunpur CHC, and 17 in Sisa CHC, an official said.

District development project officers and anganwadi workers have been screening children across all blocks under the state government’s Strategic Action for Alleviation of Malnutrition and Anaemia Reduction (SAMAR) drive, the officials said.

“Besides screening, anganwadi centres are observing September as Nourishment Month. Nutrition levels among the children are also being examined,” district social welfare officer (DSWO) Sita Pushpa said.

Gumla civil surgeon Dr Raju Kacchap said, “Under the Anaemia-Free India Programme, over 13.5 lakh haemoglobin samples have been tested. Among them, 91,000 girls aged between six and 19 years were found anaemic, 1,000 as severely anaemic, 12,000 moderate, and 25,000 mild anaemic.”

Gumla deputy commissioner (DC) Sushant Gaurav told TOI, “We have asked the authorities concerned to ensure easy entry of SAM children into the malnourishment treatment centres. The administration has made full preparation to carry out 100% percent haemoglobin test of all children at anganwadi centres, residential schools, day-boarding sports centres, and observation homes”