2 city kids treated for malnutrition

In the thriving city of Mumbai an estimated 32.7 per cent children suffer from malnutritionu00a0

Thirteen month-old Alisha Yadav should be walking on her own by now; five-year-old Anwar Shaikh should be running on the ground with other children his age.

But neither of them is leading a normal childhood.

At a time when city children are coping with lifestyle-induced obesity, Alisha and Anwar suffer from severe malnutrition (Grade IV), which has caused infections and pneumonia. They are admitted at the city's government run JJ Hospital.

Vasai resident Alisha weighs just three-and-a-half kg, while Anwar, who lives in Sewri, is only eight kg. On an average, children of Alisha's age weigh 10 kg while those of Anwar's age weigh about 18 kg, according to medical practitioners.

Admitted at JJ Hospital's paediatric ward, both children are gradually gaining weight. Dr Sushant Mane, their paediatrician says, "The children were initially being fed through a tube but now they can eat by themselves.

We are providing them with nutritious food along with the treatment."

Experts attribute malnourishment to various factors including illiteracy, negligence and poverty.

In the case of Anwar, his father Ali Shaikh has two other children and makes a living repairing mobile phones. "I don't know how Anwar got malnourished, we always gave him food," he says defensively.

Alisha's mother Sarita supports three children, "My husband left us. It is difficult to provide all three children with nutritious food. I am working all day just to provide them with a meal," she says.

Along with the medical treatment JJ Hospital also provides the parents of these children with counselling. "It's very important for the parents to take care of the children after discharge. Many times such cases come back with deteriorated health," adds Mane.

u00a0The state health department along with the centre has initiated programmes such as the Mid-day Meal Scheme and Anganwadi Food Plan to curb malnutrition among children. Rajesh Kumar, commissioner of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) says, "Out of 2,65,000 children only four per cent were found severely malnourished in the state."

"Cases of Grade I and II are quite common in Mumbai, though they are treatable without admission," says Mane.