06/09/2021 - Health

KEY POINTS

·        A recent UNICEF report stated that nearly 12 lakh children could die in low-income countries in the next six months due to a decrease in routine health services and an increase in wasting.

·        The National Family Health Survey (NFHS 5) indicates that since the onset of the pandemic, acute undernourishment in children below the age of five has worsened, with one in every three children below the age of five suffering from chronic malnourishment.

·        According to the World Health Organisation, 50 per cent of all mal- and under-nutrition can be traced to diarrhoea and intestinal worm infections, which are a direct result of poor water, sanitation and hygiene.

·        The global nutrition community has long emphasised that WASH are a sure-shot way of bolstering the country’s nutritional status.

·        Childhood diarrhoea is a major public health problem in low- and middle-income countries, leading to high mortality in children under five.

·        According to NFHS 4, approximately 9 per cent of children under five years of age in India experience diarrhoeal disease.

·        Safe drinking water, proper sanitation and hygiene can significantly reduce diarrhoeal and nutritional deaths.

·        An integrated approach to nutrition and WASH at the individual, household, and community levels along with Covid management will serve to tackle the problem of mal- and under-nutrition.

According to NFHS 9% children in india ( 5 years age ) experience diarrhoeal disease .

India's rural and urban rural areas where proper sanitation facilities are not available among them are government school, hospital,and other government facilities.

Why we need sanitation facilities?

1. To address malnutrition :

In India around 30-40% mother and children are under nutrition or face stunting issues . Because of less economic as well awareness issues . 30% of pregnant women and 15% of children under age of 5-10 are stunting. Not only healthy food but sanitation facilities must need to address this issues 

2. Health 

Covid 19 pandemic world is facing majo health challenge. So does india. sanitation facilities like water, public toilet etc facilities will make improvements in lower or vulnerable people . And improve there health . And help us to tackling disease.

3. Economic.

As for india improving sanitation facilities improvement will help us to improve people life as well it'll engage labour and other helping hand so jobs will be provided to vulnerable section by doing this we'll kill two bird. Improve sanitation facilities as well provide them job so they'll earn money for food .

Way forward:

To tackle malnutrition sanitation facilities must need to take seriously we may use digital tecnology to use data of different area where sanitation facilities available and where is poor facilities .