News / National
Over 12 000 children die of malnutrition in Zimbabwe yearly
18 Aug 2012 at 03:16hrs | Views
ABOUT 12 000 children under the age of five die in the country yearly as a result of malnutrition, a paediatrician in the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, Dr Nhamo Gonah said. Presenting a paper entitled, "Maternal and Child under nutrition: A golden opportunity exists for Zimbabwe" at the start of the Zimbabwe Medical Association (Zima) annual congress in Victoria Falls on Thursday, Dr Gonah said malnutrition was an underlying factor in the death of those aged below five.
"Worldwide more than 7 500 children under the age of five are dying every day from malnutrition and for Zimbabwe, 12 000 deaths are recorded annually directly because of malnutrition," he said.
"Maternal and child under nutrition contributed to 35 percent of under-five mortality in the country. When a child is malnourished, his or her chances of fighting other diseases like HIV and Aids, pneumonia, measles and diarrhoea are compromised."
He also said chronic malnutrition-stunting, severe wasting and intrauterine growth restriction were some of the problems facing the children aged below five.
"The Ministry of Health is in the process of disseminating information on some current activities that are addressing the problem of under nutrition. The ministry also introduced the new child health card, which has a new World Health Organisation growth standards and vaccination schedule," he said.
Dr Gonah said according to the Child Survival Strategic document-2010 to 2015 implementation plan, there were several key maternal and child health interventions that needed to be scaled up because Zimbabwe was off target to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
"Nutrition is one neglected aspect and the Ministry of Health should increase awareness among health professionals on the extent of the problem and the effects of malnutrition in Zimbabwe. A child's nutritional future begins with the mother's nutritional status in adolescence and in pregnancy. Low birth weight gradually increased from 11,2 percent in 1996 to peak at 13,8 percent in 1998. The lowest low birth weights were recorded in 2003," said Dr Gonah.
He said the first 1 000 days of life were very crucial for children.
Officially opening the congress, Zima president Dr Enoch Tatira said non-communicable diseases were once again showing their ugly face in the country.
"Let us not be caught napping for reality is showing at the horizon. Non-communicable diseases are once again showing ugly faces in our practice," he said.
Dr Tatira said Zima's goal at the congress was to bring to the fore work done within and outside the region by hard working and focused professionals in trying to look into issues of quality of life and longevity as addressed by their theme, "Non-communicable diseases, health adds life to age."
Dr Tatira also said that there was a need for a relook at the issue of health funding in the country and how it could be improved at a time when many patients were being thrown out of hospitals because they would have exhausted their insured funds.
"Worldwide more than 7 500 children under the age of five are dying every day from malnutrition and for Zimbabwe, 12 000 deaths are recorded annually directly because of malnutrition," he said.
"Maternal and child under nutrition contributed to 35 percent of under-five mortality in the country. When a child is malnourished, his or her chances of fighting other diseases like HIV and Aids, pneumonia, measles and diarrhoea are compromised."
He also said chronic malnutrition-stunting, severe wasting and intrauterine growth restriction were some of the problems facing the children aged below five.
"The Ministry of Health is in the process of disseminating information on some current activities that are addressing the problem of under nutrition. The ministry also introduced the new child health card, which has a new World Health Organisation growth standards and vaccination schedule," he said.
Dr Gonah said according to the Child Survival Strategic document-2010 to 2015 implementation plan, there were several key maternal and child health interventions that needed to be scaled up because Zimbabwe was off target to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
"Nutrition is one neglected aspect and the Ministry of Health should increase awareness among health professionals on the extent of the problem and the effects of malnutrition in Zimbabwe. A child's nutritional future begins with the mother's nutritional status in adolescence and in pregnancy. Low birth weight gradually increased from 11,2 percent in 1996 to peak at 13,8 percent in 1998. The lowest low birth weights were recorded in 2003," said Dr Gonah.
He said the first 1 000 days of life were very crucial for children.
Officially opening the congress, Zima president Dr Enoch Tatira said non-communicable diseases were once again showing their ugly face in the country.
"Let us not be caught napping for reality is showing at the horizon. Non-communicable diseases are once again showing ugly faces in our practice," he said.
Dr Tatira said Zima's goal at the congress was to bring to the fore work done within and outside the region by hard working and focused professionals in trying to look into issues of quality of life and longevity as addressed by their theme, "Non-communicable diseases, health adds life to age."
Dr Tatira also said that there was a need for a relook at the issue of health funding in the country and how it could be improved at a time when many patients were being thrown out of hospitals because they would have exhausted their insured funds.
Source - Tc
