Following reports of malnutrition deaths from Baran, the Rajasthan government has decided to screen all the children, below the age of five, in the district. There are approximately 1.6 lakh children in this age group, and children from tribal communities, particularly Sahariya tribes, are severely undernourished.
Health Minister Rajendra Rathore has asked a team of officers to visit the district to monitor the implementation of corrective measures.
In this regard, 300 Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) and Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) have been trained to screen children, and special teams of doctors and paramedical staff have been deployed in the worst-affected tehsils. Malnourished children identified in door-to-door surveys by ASHAs and ANMs will be brought to treatment centres.
Since April 1,250 severely undernourished children have been identified. Of these, 212 are currently undergoing treatment.
As an incentive, the government is providing Rs. 300 to the families to bring their undernourished children to health centres and an additional Rs. 200 to the mother as compensation for wage loss during the time.
