Children of 17 unions under three upazilas in Khulna have been suffering from malnutrition, and 70% of them are afflicted with stunted growth, according to a survey report published on Monday.
The survey was conducted under a project named Jagrata Juba Shangha (JSS) of the Max Nutri-WASH program, funded by the Max Foundation, a Dutch non-profit organization, working for disaster-stricken children.
The report was published at a roundtable discussion on nutrition organized at the Khulna Press Club.
They conducted the survey among the children of three unions of Batiaghata, Dumuria and Paikgasa upazilas from January to June this year and found this alarming signs.
The physical growth of 1,125 among 5,912 children under two years of age, is severely stunted. Of the total, 1,355 are moderately stunted, 1,474 others are mildly stunted. Another 1,895 of the children are growing normally, with 25 already height in excess compared to their age.
While 1,389 among 7,843 children below five, are severely stunted; 1,959 are moderately stunted; 2,031 are mildly stunted; 19 are becoming overweight and 2,345 are normal, according to the report.
Tauhida Sultana, an official of JSS Max Nutri-WASH, said: “This problem is emerging due to malnutrition and drastic changes in the climate. We are working to make people aware of nutrition knowledge. To track the improvement, we are routinely measuring the height and weight of children aged below two.”
