Nearly a third of children in Sudan malnourished – report

June 16, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese health ministry issued a report this week which found that 33% of children in the country are chronically malnourished while one in every twenty children is suffering from acute malnourishment.

The report also showed that there are 78 out of every 1,000 children who perish due to malnutrition adding that the nutrition situation in Sudan is characterized by “acute malnutrition” levels reaching 16.4 % which is above the global ratio of 15%.

The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health Essam El-Din Muhammad Abdallah attributed the prevalence of malnutrition in the country to water pollution and the dietary behavior of the population.

The figures included in the report revealed that less than 30% of the population use sanitation facilities while only 60% drink properly treated water.

Abdallah disclosed that the ministry created a chart containing malnutrition indicators and its implications with solutions put forward and presented to the Sudanese cabinet.

The report mentioned that lack of security in some states has impacted livelihoods of the people due to ongoing conflicts and displacement that ensued.

It noted that the economic instability following the secession of South Sudan in July 2011 has raised prices of consumer goods and hence made more families live below the poverty line.

(ST)