29 August, 2013

Over 65,000 malnourished children in Karnataka, says NGO

As per government statistics, there are over 65,000 malnourished children in Karnataka, says an NGO, United Ways of Bangalore (UWBe), citing figures from National Family Health Survey. Belgaum tops the list with 7,587, followed by Raichur (6,089), Bellary (5,258), Koppal (4,496), Gulbarga (4,436) and Bidar (1,216). Those figures, however, contrast with the data provided by Karnataka minister for women and child development Umashree in the assembly on July 22, that the state has only 3,549 children suffering from malnutrition

Though more than 90% of kids under the age of six are in areas covered by anganwadis, only 36% of them actually received services of some kind from these centres, according to UWBe.

‘The government is doing its bit as far as spending money on various schemes is concerned. However, merely spending money will not help, there needs to be proper planning. It needs to ensure that food distributed to children under the age of six actually has the right amount of nutrition required for a child of that age,’ says nutritionist and scientist Dr KC Raghu. 

For instance, the state government recently agreed to supply milk to children covered by anganwadis. It agreed to include the same in their mid-day meal scheme. However, it decided to supply skimmed milk powder to kids under the age of six while those covered under mid-day meal scheme were given whole milk powder. Ideally it should have been the other way round. ‘Kids under the age of six need energy through fats and proteins. By giving them skimmed milk we are in no way addressing their health issue properly,’ says Raghu.

According to Suresh Nair, executive director, United Way of Bengaluru (UWBe), the India wing of a US not-for-profit organisation, there is little knowledge on nutrition required by kids when they under six years of age. ‘There are very few schemes run by government which cover kids in this age group. If we intend to eradicate infant mortality, we need to catch them young,’ says Nair. This can be done by educating the anganwadi workers and giving them access to clean water and a hygienic place to operate from. 

Experts even trashed government’s recent step to distribute iron tablets among schoolchildren. You need nutrition through freshly cooked meals and not tablets, say doctors.   

Statistics reveal that only 17-18% of children actually received health check-ups and growth monitoring services at anganwadi centres. Experts say that most anganwadis do not have proper buildings. 

However, anganwadi workers say despite taking care of lakhs of women and children, the government has turned a blind eye to their problems and woes. Many allege that despite repeated requests, the government has not taken any step to increase their monthly salary. 

There are 1.29 lakh anganwadi workers and assistants across the state. While the anganwadi workers are paid Rs 4,500 per month, the anganwadi assistants are paid Rs 2,500.

Source: http://health.india.com

29.08.2013

Eat sweets to cure chikungunya!

With the outbreak of chikungunya in the Ahmedabad, general physicians are having a busy time. According to a rough estimate, physicians in the city receive around 15-20 patients every day suffering from chikungunya.

Initially, many thought that chikungunya has no cure.

However, now, the city doctors have found a simple and novel way of curing the disease.

A city-based physician, Dr Suresh Shah, who cured 1,300 patients during the major outbreak seven years back, said: ‘The best way to treat chikungunya is to have home-made sweets like sukhdi, kheer, sheero and lots of liquids. Of course, paracetamol should be taken, but the main focus should be on home-made sweets.’

Elaborating on this, Dr Suresh said that the one suffering from chikungunya needs to be given energy as joint pain and viral fever make the patient weak.

Many doctors may suggest glucose drips for instant energy, but to ensure that the situation does not get worse, sweets and liquids should be taken. They help in recovering in just three to five days, added Dr Suresh.

According to the health report prepared by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), the city has recorded around 60 cases of chikungunya so far (since January this year).

However, there are still many, who are being treated at private clinics.

The city doctors believe that chikungunya is back, but this time in a milder form.

Another family physician, Dr Pragnesh Vaccharajani of Navrangpura area, said that for the treatment of chikungunya, steroids are a strict no-no.

‘We have learned from our past experiences. When there was an epidemic, we did not have much awareness on the treatment and many suggested steroids and paracetamol.

But in reality, unnecessary pain killers, steroids should be avoided. The doctors have realised that steroids and pain killers do not help in curing chikungunya.

However, Dr Vaccharajani said that liquids, plain paracetamol and good rest are the three essential things to cure the disease.

Talking further about finding a cure to the disease, a city-based physician in Sabarmati area, said: ‘Earlier, chikungunya was new for the doctors and there was not much awareness about it. Now, over a period of time, people have developed immunity, therefore, chikungunya is not a life-threatening disease’. 

As chikungunya results in low blood platelets, it is advisable to have plenty of fruits and liquids for energy, added Dr BS Shah.

Source: http://health.india.com

29.08.2013

Success comes in cans, not in cannots