No fresh milk or milk powder so no nutrition for children

By Nadia Fazlulhaq

More than thirty percent of Sri Lankan children below the age of five are known to be underweight and suffering from malnutrition and this figure is bound to rise after the recent price increase and the non availability of milk powder, a nutritionist said.

Dr. Renuka Jayatissa said with fresh milk already in short supply and coupled with the recent price increases would deprive some 1.9 million children the essential nourishment they require.

“Milk is essential for children under the age of five. For many Sri Lankans, without other alternatives milk powder happens to be the only option. Children need at least two servings of fresh milk or milk products. Milk including Soya milk provides a balanced diet with the Protein and Calcium essential for growing bodies and bones,” Dr. Jayatissa said.

She lamented that such a large price increase of powdered milk was not helpful when fresh milk was not freely available.“The price hike will force mothers to give their children diluted milk with a much reduced nutritional value, even resorting to the purchase of exposed (loose) milk powder which is unhygienic and subject to contamination,” she said and added that government should promote places where fresh milk, curd, yoghurt and Soya milk would be freely available with people in urban areas weaned away from milk powder and the drinking of fresh milk encouraged.