From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Dec 7: Heath and Family Welfare Minister Dr K Sudhakar has emphasized the need for making concerted efforts to check malnutrition and anemic conditions among children from an early stage.

Addressing a workshop on malnutrition and anemic free Karnataka in Bengaluru on Wednesday, he said all the health workers must take care to protect the expecting mothers and ensure regular check-ups as maternal deaths in the present circumstances, when science and healthcare facilities have improved, is a matter of shame.

Dr Sudhakar said testing children at a young age, especially in schools in rural areas was very important and this should be done on a regular basis by enlisting the help of the primary health centres.

Asha and Anganawadi staff must be involved along with the Health and Family Welfare as well as Rural Development Departments in the health check-ups of children, he said advised doctors to visit the schools to conduct the health check-ups and also to create awareness.

Though Karnataka has achieved tremendous success in the health sector and has improved its performance in the health indices, the minister said much more can and must be done in checking malnutrition and anemia among the children.

Malnutrition occurs normally two years after the birth of a child, the minister said it is necessary to take steps to prevent malnutrition and anemia among children within 1000 days of birth. The problem of malnutrition will be more serious among female children because their children will also face same problems, he said.

Dr Sudhakar said the experts suggest that 8% of budgetary allocations must be set apart for health sector. Karnataka is near the goal as the allocations are around 5% of the total outlay, he said pointing out that the allocations have been increased substantially during the last two to three years.