MAIMANA (SW) – Health officials in Faryab say that the number of malnourished children in this province has increased by 15% compared to last year.
Officials of the malnutrition departments of “Kaf” organization and coordinator of health programs in Faryab say that 12 children suffering from malnutrition have died in this province this year.
Bashir Zarif, the head of the malnutrition department of “Kaf” organization, told Salam Watandar that in the past year, 854,615 children under the age of five have been included in the nutrition programs of this organization in the health centers of this province.
He added: “170 thousand 994 children were acutely and moderately malnourished, of which 47 thousand 883 children were included in the moderate malnutrition program and 53 thousand 771 children were severely malnourished, of which 14 thousand 944 children included Malnutrition treatment programs have become severe.”
A number of residents of Faryab say that many pregnant women and babies in this province are not properly fed due to lack of food and this is the reason why they suffer from malnutrition. They still complained about the lack of treatment facilities in some health centers in this province.
Jamaluddin, a resident of Faryab, said: “Doctors take good care, but they say that there is no way for us to help you. We bring everything from the market. I spend 780 afghanis from the drug market every day.”
Drought, illiteracy, lack of knowledge and inadequate and incorrect nutrition are the main reasons for increasing malnutrition among children in Faryab.
Gul Pari, another resident of Faryab, whose daughter is suffering from malnutrition, says: “She is my daughter and we came because of malnutrition and admitted her to the severe malnutrition ward for treatment and recovery. She vomits and has a fever. It is better than the day we brought her.”
A number of patients and patients in Faryab complain about the lack of medicine and beds in the district hospital of this province. However the officials of the Faryab regional hospital, rejecting this issue, say that they have all the medical facilities and medical equipment at their disposal and provide them to the patients for free.
ENDS
