Health minister says malnutrition rises among Sri Lanka’s children under 5
The health habits of children and the reduction of people's purchasing power during the country's economic crisis had also led to an increase in malnutrition among children, the minister said.
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella on Thursday said that malnutrition has increased among children under the age of five in the South Asian country in the past two years and that steps are being taken to address the issue.
Addressing the parliament, Rambukwella said there was an increase in the malnutrition figures in 2021 and 2022, and one of the major reasons for this situation was the unethical promotion of certain food items.
The health habits of children and the reduction of people’s purchasing power during the country’s economic crisis had also led to an increase in malnutrition among children, the minister said.
According to a recent report from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Sri Lanka is in the middle of an acute economic crisis that is expected to continue throughout 2023, with an estimated 6.2 million people, including 2.9 million children, in urgent need of humanitarian assistance this year.
-Xinhua
