Two members of the Karnataka State Food Commission on Friday visited the Nutritional Rehabilitation Centre (NRC) on the premises of children’s wing of Cheluvamba Hospital here to address malnutrition in children below six years of age.
H.V. Shiva Shankar and D.G. Hasbi, the members, accompanied by District Health Officer Basavaraj and hospital authorities, went around the 10-bed facility and spoke to the mothers and other family members of children admitted, about the nutritional interventions offered at the centre.
The specialised centre was launched in November 2012 for the rehabilitation of malnourished children hailing from the district. Anganwadi teachers and helpers, who work under the Department of Women and Child Development, identify children suffering from nutrition deficiencies who are then brought to the NRC, if required, for treatment including the administering of nutritional supplements. The children’s mothers must be present during treatment. They are offered a daily incentive until the treatment was over. After two to three weeks of treatment (depending on the cases) and orientation of their mothers, the children are discharged.
When the commission members visited NRC, there were about six children availing treatment. Health Department sources said the members sought the details on the malnourished children and asked why a lesser number of children were admitted. They asked whether the mothers of malnourished children were suitably getting the daily incentive.
Sources said the district has about 192 malnourished children as per the report of the Child Development Department.
