Children’s screening planned in Kharan, Nushki, Washuk, Chagai
First campaign in three districts showed alarming rate of Malnutrition
First campaign in three districts showed alarming rate of Malnutrition. PHOTO: FILE
QUETTA:
Provincial Coordinator on women health Dr Sher Ahmed Satakzai has said the second mass screening exercise for malnutrition of children aged between six months and five years will be launched in Kharan, Nushki, Washuk and Chagai districts.
“The Balochistan chief minister and health minister ordered launching of malnourished children’s screening in drought-hit areas, especially in Kharan, Nushki, Washuk and Chaghi districts,” the provincial coordinator of lady health workers national programme said while addressing a press conference on Saturday.
He said the process of screening would be expanded to other districts as well.
Drought in 20 districts hits 100,000 families
From the preliminary results in Quetta block, the department of health in collaboration with United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (Unicef) and other partners started response interventions which included treatment of all identified malnutrition cases.
Dr Satakzai said, “As many as 2,500 teams comprising lady health workers and supervisors have been providing training regarding children screening and for the first time the health department has launched district-wise screening to collect data of malnourished children.”
Meanwhile, high rates of malnutrition were found in children aged six months to five years in Quetta, Pishin and Qilla Abdullah districts during a four-day mass screening that concluded on Friday.
Charity plans donors moot over drought
The screening revealed more than 40 per cent Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) among children of some communities in three districts. The GAM rate ranged between 40 per cent and 65 per cent in Panjpai union council area.
According to World Health Organisation (WHO) standards a GAM rate of 15 per cent constitutes an emergency. GAM is the combination of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) and Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM).
The mass screening exercise for malnutrition provided vital information and data that will guide focused planning and response interventions by government and partners to address the situation at community and grass-roots levels.
The children identified as facing SAM are being treated through lady health workers and supervisors against the backdrop of a nutrition emergency in Balochistan.
The mass screening exercise will commence shortly in other districts of Balochistan through the active involvement of lady health workers, supervisors and volunteers from the communities concerned.
Provincial Coordinator on women health Dr Sher Ahmed Satakzai has said the second mass screening exercise for malnutrition of children aged between six months and five years will be launched in Kharan, Nushki, Washuk and Chagai districts.
“The Balochistan chief minister and health minister ordered launching of malnourished children’s screening in drought-hit areas, especially in Kharan, Nushki, Washuk and Chaghi districts,” the provincial coordinator of lady health workers national programme said while addressing a press conference on Saturday.
He said the process of screening would be expanded to other districts as well.
Drought in 20 districts hits 100,000 families
From the preliminary results in Quetta block, the department of health in collaboration with United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (Unicef) and other partners started response interventions which included treatment of all identified malnutrition cases.
Dr Satakzai said, “As many as 2,500 teams comprising lady health workers and supervisors have been providing training regarding children screening and for the first time the health department has launched district-wise screening to collect data of malnourished children.”
Meanwhile, high rates of malnutrition were found in children aged six months to five years in Quetta, Pishin and Qilla Abdullah districts during a four-day mass screening that concluded on Friday.
Charity plans donors moot over drought
The screening revealed more than 40 per cent Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) among children of some communities in three districts. The GAM rate ranged between 40 per cent and 65 per cent in Panjpai union council area.
According to World Health Organisation (WHO) standards a GAM rate of 15 per cent constitutes an emergency. GAM is the combination of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) and Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM).
The mass screening exercise for malnutrition provided vital information and data that will guide focused planning and response interventions by government and partners to address the situation at community and grass-roots levels.
The children identified as facing SAM are being treated through lady health workers and supervisors against the backdrop of a nutrition emergency in Balochistan.
The mass screening exercise will commence shortly in other districts of Balochistan through the active involvement of lady health workers, supervisors and volunteers from the communities concerned.