Lok Sabha Question No. 3209 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-09
Subject: Death Due to Malnutrition
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Bhausaheb Rajaram Wakchaure

## GOVERNMENT OFINDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3209 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.08.2024

## DEATH DUE TO MALNUTRITION

## 3209. SHRI BHAUSAHEB RAJARAM WAKCHAURE:

Will the MINISTER of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of persons died of malnutrition and contaminated drinking water during the last three years in the country, State/UT-wise and year-wise; and
- (b) the steps taken by the Government to check such cases in the country?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE (SMT. ANUPRIYAPATEL)

- (a) No such data is maintained centrally. Drinking of contaminated water may cause Water Borne Disease such as Cholera, Acute Diarrhoeal Diseases, Viral Hepatitis and Typhoid (Enteric Fever). State -wise and year-wise number of deaths reported due to Cholera, Acute Diarrhoeal Diseases, Viral Hepatitis and Typhoid (Enteric Fever) may be accessed under National Health Profile at the following link : https://cbhidghs.mohfw.gov.in
- (b) Under National Health Mission (NHM), the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is implementing various programs to reduce under-nutrition in vulnerable population across the life cycle, such as micronutrients supplementation program, management of sick children with severe acute malnutrition in health facilities, improvement of appropriate Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices, Vitamin A supplementation, National Deworming Day etc. Prevention of Childhood illnesses such as Diarrhoeal diseases in turn prevents childhood malnutrition indirectly. The details are Annexed.

Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation has taken initiatives for safe drinking water supply to the population throughout the country including those areas with high Fluoride and Arsenic content in ground water, along with activities for Solid and Liquid Waste Management (SLWM). Awareness generation activities are also being conducted among general population on importance of use of safe drinking water and hand-washing for prevention of water borne diseases.

Integrated Disease Surveillance Program - Integrated Health Information Platform (IDSP-IHIP) is an important surveillance program under National Health Mission that does the disease surveillance in the country. IDSP is implemented in all 36 States/UTs. The program is responsible for the surveillance of 40 plus epidemic prone diseases including water borne diseases.

Feedback based on the analysis of the disease data is shared to the respective state and the district to take further necessary actions in the areas reporting the water borne disease. The collected data helps in the timely management of these diseases and also for policy making purpose. Through surveillance mechanism the early warning signals are captured to generate alerts, detect outbreaks in the early rising phase. Outbreak investigations are conducted and timely appropriate measures are undertaken by the health department to control and prevent the further spread of the disease.

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## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (b) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3209 FOR 09.08.2024 REGARDING DEATH DUE TO MALNUTRITION:

Programmatic interventions for addressing nutrition concerns among children across the country :

1. Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres (NRCs) are set up at public health facilities to provide inpatient medical and nutritional care to children under 5 years of age suffering from Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) with medical complications. In addition to curative care, special focus is given on timely, adequate and appropriate feeding for children, correction of micronutrient deficiencies, improving the skills for mother and caregivers on complete ageappropriate caring and feeding practices.
2. Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB): The Government of India implements Anemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) programme to reduce prevalence of anemia among six beneficiary groups - Children 659 months, Children 5-9 years, Adolescents 10-19 years, Pregnant women, lactating mother and Women of Reproductive Age (20-49 years). The interventions are Prophylactic Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation, deworming among children 1-19 years and pregnant women, Intensified Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) Campaign, Provision of IFA fortified food in government funded public health programme and addressing non-nutritional causes of anaemia in endemic pockets with special focus on malaria, haemoglobinopathies and fluorosis, implemented via robust institutional mechanism.
3. Under National Deworming Day (NDD) albendazole tablets are administered in a single fixed day approach via schools and anganwadi centres in two rounds (February and August) to reduce the soil transmitted helminth (STH) infestation among all children and adolescents (119 years).
4. Mothers' Absolute Affection (MAA) Programme is implemented to emphasize on improving breastfeeding coverage which includes early initiation of breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding for first six months followed by age-appropriate complementary feeding practices through capacity building of frontline health workers and comprehensive IEC campaigns.
5. Lactation Management Centres: Comprehensive Lactation Management Centres (CLMC) are facilities established to ensure availability of safe, pasteurized Donor Human Milk for feeding of sick, preterm and low birth weight babies admitted in Neonatal Intensive Care Units and Special Newborn Care Units. Lactation Management Unit (LMU) are established for providing lactation support to mothers within the health facility for collection, storage and dispensing of mother ' s own breast milk for consumption by her baby.
6. Village Health Sanitation and Nutrition Days (VHSNDs) are observed for provision of maternal and child health services and creating awareness on maternal and child care including nutrition in convergence with Ministry of Women and Child Development.
7. Mother and Child Protection Card is the joint initiative of the Ministry of Health & Family welfare and the Ministry of Woman and Child Development which addresses the nutrition concerns in children.

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