Anaemia or iron deficiency which leaves a child pale and weak has been found to be rampant with one in every four children (25%) falling victim, according to a recent survey.
Sugar, coconut and rice are the staple food of 99% of Sri Lankan children, the national survey on nutrition has revealed.
This along with other disturbing findings on malnutrition has sent shock waves among nutritionists.
Acute malnutrition among children under five is 12%, while chronic malnutrition (stunting) is 19%. Malnutrition is the lack of healthy food in the diet or an excessive intake of unhealthy food leading to physical harm.
"Anaemia or iron deficiency can lead not only to numerous growth problems but also affect their studies. When anaemic children become anaemic adults production and work capacity are low, having an impact on development," said Dr. Renuka Jayatissa, the, Medical Research Institute's Nutrition Department Head, who conducted the 'Nutrition and Food Security Survey'.
The survey had been conducted in collaboration with UNICEF and the World Food Programme in 2009 in nine districts, one each from every province, to get a national representative sample. The districts were Colombo, Ratnapura, Anuradhapura, Kurunegala, Trincomalee, Jaffna, Badulla, Nuwara Eliya and Hambantota.
The prevalence of anaemia is not linked to poverty but is across the board affecting those from both the richest and the poorest families, the Sunday Times understands.
Referring to "food diversity" being a huge problem among the 99% of children eating sugar, coconut and rice, Dr. Jayatissa creates the image of their plates not having a balanced meal with nutritious food.
"They eat no meat or fish, no vegetables and fruit and no green leaves,
to mention some of the ingredients of a balance diet! When they become adults, along with the no-exercise lifestyle most people are leading, we will have a sick nation," she says.
With such eating habits and lack of exercise, the spectre of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension looms large in Sri Lanka, it is learnt.
(Next week: A deeper look at the survey and action needed to improve nutrition)
Jaffna children better nourished than Colombo's
Colombo district is the "worst" and Jaffna the "best" with regard to acute malnutrition, the survey has revealed, dispelling long-held misconceptions.
Acting as an eye-opener, the survey indicates that in the Colombo district, 18% of children under five are suffering from acute malnutrition. Jaffna district is affected less with only 9%. This is much below the national average of 12%.
Explaining how the tables have turned in the Colombo district, Dr. Jayatissa says that in earlier surveys, both the Colombo city and the other areas of the district were taken as a whole. With the city's good figures, the other areas were overshadowed, giving a positive picture.
"In this survey, we collected data separately from the city and from the other areas," she says, explaining that other areas are a mix of urban, rural and plantations. "This has revealed the true picture of malnutrition in the Colombo district."
And how does Jaffna district have low malnutrition among under-fives?
It has been a donor-driven district with funds being channelled there over a long time, this nutritionist explains, adding that Colombo district has been neglected because everyone assumes it is doing fine when including the city's figures.
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