Malnutrition deaths: Toll touches 21 in Sheopur district
Malnutrition took toll on four more children in Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh over the last week. Government officials, however, have confirmed only two deaths and pegged the toll at 21.
Malnutrition took toll on four more children in Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh over the last week. Government officials, however, have confirmed only two deaths and pegged the toll at 21.
At least 19 children have died of malnutrition in the district since August, although media reports have claimed at least 62 deaths.
Data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) released earlier this year suggest that Sheopur has the highest proportion of malnutrition at 55%.
“There are five more suspected deaths, but we aren’t sure about them,” said chief medical and health officer (Sheopur) RP Saral.
Principal secretary (health) Gauri Singh, however, cast aside the reports as “media hype” and said a review meeting was held recently to improve health of children admitted to nutrition rehabilitation centres (NRC).
The NRCs of Sheopur, Vijaypur and Karhal have admitted 144, 65 and 91 children respectively.
Ten teams of National Health Mission, state women and child development department, and UNICEF conducted an eight-day-long survey in the district that ended on September 19. The survey states that at least 486 children have been found to be malnourished in Sheopur.
Congress MP from Guna Jyotiraditya Scindia had recently written to chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Union minister women and child development Maneka Gandhi, expressing concern over the reported deaths.
“Media reports quote 62 deaths whereas government authorities are reducing the number to nullify the issue,” he said.
Triggered by media reports and Scindia’s letter, union minister women and child development Maneka Gandhi has dispatched a high-level central team to probe the malnutrition deaths.
The team led by senior officers of women and child department will visit the affected families in Sheopur to collect data and assess steps taken by state authorities to contain the situation.
