Malnutrition Claims Twelve Lives in Madhya Pradesh

In the last six months, 12 children have died due to malnutrition in Madhya Pradesh and 24 others are admitted to hospitals.

The children died at Golipura village of Sheopur district. Health Minister Rustam Singh visited the village to take stock of the situation and also met the families of the affected children.

‘Madhya Pradesh has the highest number of malnourished children in India. Over 60 percent of Indian children are stunted and underweight.’

Singh has approved a compensation of Rs 5,000 to the families of the deceased children. On his direction, 11 teams are carrying out a health survey of children in all villages of Sheopur district.

Madhya Pradesh has the highest number of malnourished children in the country. About 74% of children under the age of five suffer from anemia and 60% from malnutrition.

According to the data of National Family Health Survey-3 (NFHS-3) 2005-06, 42.5% of the country's children under the age of five are malnourished and 69.5% are anemic.

Source: IANS