Madhesh leads in wasting, Karnali in stunting

Nepal is facing a critical nutrition crisis, with a recent study indicating a significant worsening of conditions for children under five. The National Nutrition Assessment, conducted across all 77 districts, found that over 200,000 children are suffering from acute malnutrition. This marks a concerning increase from previous data, highlighting a public health emergency.

The preliminary report reveals that nine percent of children aged six to 59 months are experiencing wasting, a sharp rise from the eight percent recorded in 2021. Stunting, a sign of chronic malnutrition, affects 26 percent of children under five, a slight increase from 25 percent in 2022. Lila Bikram Thapa, chief of the Nutrition Section at the Family Welfare Division, stated that the assessment's findings show nutritional conditions have worsened compared to the Nepal Demographic and Health Survey 2022.

“

Findings from the assessment conducted across all 753 local units of the country show that nutritional conditions have worsened further compared to what was shown by the NDHS 2022 report.

Wasting, an acute form of malnutrition, is particularly alarming as it can require urgent medical care and significantly increases a child's risk of death. Experts warn that when wasting rates exceed 10 percent, child mortality can escalate rapidly, necessitating immediate interventions. This condition often results from inadequate nutritious food intake combined with infections. Doctors emphasize that even children receiving sufficient food might not be getting the proper protein-rich and nutritious diets essential for healthy development.

Geographically, Madhesh province reports the highest prevalence of wasting at 13.2 percent, followed by Sudurpaschim province at 10.4 percent. Other provinces also show concerning rates, with Lumbini at nine percent and Koshi at 7.3 percent. Some local units within these provinces exhibit extremely high wasting rates, such as Koshi Rural Municipality in Sunsari district, where 36.5 percent of children are affected. These figures underscore the urgent need for targeted nutritional support and healthcare interventions across the country.

“

Wasting is a dangerous form of malnutrition. The rise in the number of children suffering from wasting is a matter of serious concern, as such children could die even from diarrhoea or any other minor illnesses.