Active measures to combat malnutrition in the works
View(s):Recent measures taken to fight malnutrition among schoolchildren were explained by Education Minister Susil Premajayatha this week in Parliament.
He said chronic malnutrition increased by 0.8% in 2020, since 2018.
The Minister expected an increase in the issue, due to the economic crisis, which could be confirmed if the medical examination was held as scheduled within the next four months.
To combat malnutrition, the Minister said 10kg of rice from 10,000 metric tonnes donated by China was expected to be provided to students in rural schools.
Under the School Nutrition Programme, school children were to be provided a bag of dry food, including children of 848 schools who would be provided a tin of canned fish and a portion of dhal each.
A programme to provide the necessary folic acid and iron for schoolchildren was also being conducted.
Moreover, with the support of the World Food Programme, the School Nutrition Programme was scheduled to begin soon. The programme would also focus on home cultivation in schools, for which equipment was to be provided, and school nutrition units would be set up in ten schools of two educational zones.
The Minister said the lack of food was not the only cause for malnutrition, and measures were being taken to create awareness among schoolchildren about correct eating habits. Accordingly, the Minister said school canteens would stop selling unhealthy food items, under the supervision of Public Health Inspectors.
The Minister also said he was going to speak with the European Union Ambassador and New Zealand High Commissioner to secure milk powder, and request 5000 metric tonnes of wheat from the United States of America or the Russian Federation.
He said a system, where well-to-do schools would be able to help schools with students suffering from malnutrition, was being organised as well.
By identifying students suffering from malnutrition on a provincial basis, nutrition programmes were to be conducted in a range of schools, with the help of companies such as John Keells.
The Lion’s Club had also proposed to provide children of more than 100 schools with Rs. 150 each, and they had also spoken with officials at the Munchee and Maliban companies to provide the necessary ingredients to make biscuits with the necessary vitamins for schoolchildren.
(SJA)
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