Thaindian News

Ranchi, Sep 1 (IANS) Around 55 percent of children under three years in Jharkhand are underweight and 70 percent of women and adolescent girls anaemic, Unicef says.

Job Zachariah, Jharkhand chief of Unicef, said here Thursday: “Around 55 percent children of below three are underweight against the national average of around 40. In addition, more than 80 percent of children between six and 35 months and about 70 percent of women and adolescent girls in Jharkhand are anaemic.”

He further said: “Around 50,000 children below five years die every year in the state. Out of this, at least 25,000 deaths are indirectly caused by malnutrition and, therefore, can be prevented.”

Zachariah was speaking here at the inauguration of the National Nutrition Week which is being observed Sep 1-7.

All the 60,000 ‘anganwadis’ (childcare centres) in the state will initiate ‘annaprasan’ (first solid food/rice feeding ceremony) for children who have completed six months. A statewide awareness campaign will also be organised.

“Under-nutrition among children could be reduced by improving breastfeeding, strengthening immunisation, preventing child marriage (which leads to babies weighing less at birth), and ensuring better hygiene and clean drinking water.”

Jharkhand Social Welfare Minister Vimla Pradhan said: “The issue of malnutrition needs to be tackled at the community and family levels, using easily available remedies.” She also stressed the need to use the local language in awareness campaigns.