Nutrition Status of Children
Sri Lanka has made great progress in the past decades in improving basic health indicators, but while Sri Lankan children have a much better chance for survival than ever before, the fact remains that they are not living to their full potential. Despite vast improvements in child survival figures – the under 5 mortality rate has dropped from 100 per 1000 in 1970 to 14 in 2004 – malnutrition among children continues to be a major health problem. According to official figures, one out of every five children is born with a low birth weight and nearly one-third of children under-5 years are underweight. While this may be bad enough, other studies carried out in selected deprived districts reveal a much more daunting picture. In 2003, 41.4 per cent of children under five years in Nuwara Eliya and 41 per cent of children under five in Anuradhapura were underweight. [taken from CCA]. In addition nearly 58 percent of infants between 6-11 months and 38 percent of children between 12 and 23 months are anaemic. About one-third of households have no access to sanitation facilities and about one-quarter have no access to safe drinking water, posing significant threats to child health. The tsunami caused additional setbacks in improving children’s nutritional status. Though recent surveys have shown improvements among children living in controlled areas such as camps. While images of emaciated children are not ones associated with Sri Lanka, under nutrition remains a serious issue around the country. The Government of Sri Lanka is in the process of finalizing a national nutrition strategy and deciding upon institutional responsibilities to execute and monitor its implementation. Comprehensive analysis is also being undertaken to better understand the factors leading to malnutrition. Nutrition challenges in Early Childhood
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