News
Malnutrition to rise due to increased poverty and high food prices
Malnutrition will rise in the face of increased poverty and high food prices, the Sri Lanka Medical Nutrition Association, Nutrition Society of Sri Lanka, Dieticians’ Association and the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) People’s Forum say.
Therefore, they urge the authorities to stabilise the gains achieved in nutrition status of the vulnerable in Sri Lanka, especially of children less than 5 years of age.
The associations say that there are three measurements of malnutrition that the world uses to compare the nutrition status of a country and the various regions. These measurements are assessed among children less than 5 years as all children grow in the same pattern and speed (trend) at this age as genetic differences do not come into play. Children under 5 therefore are considered as the sentinel or observation group of the whole of the population nutrition status. Any change in the diet is quickly reflected among children especially of this age. The measurements are weight-for-age, weight-for-height (thinness – wasting) and height-for-age (shortness – stunting)
Sri Lanka is currently the country with the least stunted children under 5 years in the South Asian Region with a prevalence of 11.5% (Stunting denotes low height for age as a result of chronic malnutrition). This situation was seen just before the current economic crisis.
Many of the South Asian countries have a stunting prevalence of over 30%. It is important to compare the prevalence of nutrition status among countries, at the same time, in order to have a level playing field.
Over the past 30 years,stunting or shortness, also known as chronic or long term malnutrition measured as height-for-age has continued to reduce, thus seeing a marked improvement among children in this age group. This improvement is due to the fact that the other form of childhood malnutrition, which is wasting or thinness, also known as acute or short term malnutrition which is measured by weight-for-height, has been arrested, before it converts into stunting or loss of height.
This positive trend in reducing chronic malnutrition can be attributed to the following:
1) Successive governments, whatever their ills, have been committed to supporting public health programs that have arrested wasting at the right time before it converts to stunting
2) The status of food and nutrition security not being compromised to an extent that is detrimental to nutrition status of the most vulnerable such as under 5s. This positive situation has been brought about by supplementary and therapeutic feeding for children under 5, micronutrient supplementation for pregnant and lactating mothers and children of this age group and beyond, growth monitoring and promotion meticulously done, food assistance programs and agricultural assistance to farmers to name a few of the interventions.
However, it is expected that malnutrition will rise in the face of increased poverty and high food prices brought about by the current crisis. Currently the levels of poverty have risen bringing it to 14% from a previous value of 6.7%. (Humanitarian Needs and Priorities Plan – UN Joint Assessment Sri Lanka, June to Sept 2022).This amounts to 700,000 families out of approximately 4.9 million, which are “nutritionally at risk”.
There should be a systematic program of intervention especially targeting these households and their vulnerable family members without piecemeal approaches on the part of the state and non-state actors.
The Sri Lanka Medical Nutrition Association, the Nutrition Society of Sri Lanka, the Dieticians Association and the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) People’s Forum strongly urges all entities working on food and nutrition in Sri Lanka to act fast and in a coordinated approach to arrest the deterioration of these families.
Development organizations and the media are strongly urged to use accurate data and provide a balanced picture, when giving media exposure to the malnutrition status of Sri Lankans especially children. It is important to cite accurate current figures obtained from reputed organizations when communicating with the media.
The following interventions are recommended by the above associations:
1. Immediate supply of therapeutic food to the ≈27,000 children under 5 years who are severely malnourished.
2. Support by way of supplementary feeding for the ≈207,000 moderately malnourished children under 5 years.
3. Accelerate the existing mechanism to early identification and correction of growth faltering of children under five years to prevent acute malnutrition.
3. Household food and agriculture support should be provided to families of children who have begun to falter in their growth in order to prevent them reducing into the pile of the undernourished. Supplementary food is also important for these children. These growth faltering children amount to approximately 500,000, as seen through regular growth monitoring reports. It is also important to identify these children on time, before they start on a downward curve.
4. Support the popularizing of healthy and creative menus which include mixed curries and dishes, one dish meals and healthy snacks which are less cost intensive and easy to prepare.
5. Open “Sahana Salas” or shops which sell cheaper food of good value which will be accessible to all income groups.
The above-mentioned associations all have as our objective good nutrition and health of our citizens and we are available to collaborate with partners who come forward.
Harsha rejects what he called frivolous accusations
Chairman of Committee on Public Finance (CoPF) Dr. Harsha de Silva dismissed Free Lawyers’ claim that his Committee had helped delay a proper investigation into the theft of USD 2.5 mn (nearly Rs 1 bn) from the Treasury.
The Colombo District SJB MP said that he wouldn’t comment on frivolous accusations against his Committee. “We conduct ourselves in keeping with the highest standards of professionalism and responsibility.”
Dr. de Silva said so when The Island raised the Free Lawyers’ allegation that the Treasury and the Central Bank were using the CoPF as a tool to prolong investigations into the unprecedented theft of funds. Free Lawyers targeted the CoPF in a statement issued by Maithri Gunaratne, PC, and civil society activist Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon.
The other members of the CoPF are Harshana Rajakaruna (SJB), Ravi Karunanayake (NDF), Nimal Palihena (NPP), Wijesiri Basnayake (NPP), Thilina Samarakoon (NPP), Lakmali Hemachandra (NPP), Chathuranga Abeysinghe (NPP), Kaushalya Ariyaratne (NPP), Akram Ilyas (NPP), Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanikkyam (ITAK), Champika Hettiarachchi (NPP), Sunil Rajapaksha (NPP),
M. K. M. Aslam (NPP), Ajith Agalakada (NPP), Rauff Hakeem (SLMC), Chitral Fernando (SJB) and Nishantha Jayaweera (NPP).
Tennakoon said the theft of funds happened over eight months ago and the Parliament owed the country a clear explanation regarding the disappearance of USD 2.5 mn. The CoPF, instead of expediting the process, has conveniently granted time for those responsible for the loss to cover up their tracks. “Free Lawyers pursue the issue at hand vigorously as we were the first to reveal the loss of USD 2.5 mn. Those who knew it remained silent until our disclosure,” he said, alleging that Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickremaratne was yet to respond to their letter regarding the USD 2.5 theft.
Responding to queries, Tennakoon said that political parties represented in the CoPF should be held responsible for the developing situation. “The Committee on Public Accounts Committee (CoPA) headed by SJB MP Kabir Hashim too, should explain its failure to deal with the USD 2.5 mn theft. Both CoPF and CoPA led by two SJB MPs should act now. Dr. de Silva and Hashim are answerable to the public, particularly because they represent the main Opposition.”
The CoPA consists of Kabir Hashim, Maj. Gen. Aruna Jayasekera (NPP), Sugath Thilakaratne (NPP), Anton Jayakody (NPP), Chandana Sooriyaarachchi (NPP), Ruwanthilaka Jayakody (NPP), Nalin Hewage (NPP), Oshani Umanga (NPP), Manjula Suraweera (NPP), Sagarika Athauda (NPP), Janaka Senarathna (NPP), K.Illankumaran (NPP), Dinidu Saman Henanayake (NPP), Susantha Kumara Navaratna (NPP), Lal Premanath (NPP), Aravinda Senarath (NPP), Thushari Jayasinghe (NPP), T. K. Jayasundera, Ajantha Gammeddage (NPP), Sundaralingam Pradeep (NPP), Kavinda Jayawardena (SJB), J.C. Alawathuwala (SJB),Hector Appuhamy (SJB), Kaveenthiran Kodeeswaran (ITAK), Chamara Sampath Dassanayake (NDF), Rohitha Abeygunawardena (NDF), M.L.A.M. Hisbullah (SLMC), M.A.M. Thahir (ACMC), Chanaka Madugoda (SLPP) and Sunil Ratnasiri (NPP).
Tennakoon said that both CoPF and CoPA were dominated by the NPP though the SJBers headed them. However, as heads of the two parliamentary committees, Dr. de Silva and Hashim, should be held responsible for lapses on the part of the committees or any deliberate omissions, Tennakoon said, questioning the rationale behind giving the Treasury and the CBSL six weeks to submit their findings to the CoPF.
Free Lawyers alleged that USD 2.5 had been released in spite of JP Morgan Chase and the Federal Reserve in the United States warning Sri Lanka about the suspicious nature of those foreign transactions via SWIFT messages. Tennakoon emphasized investigators should closely inquire into the decision taken to release funds regardless of such high-profile warnings.
Tennakoon said that the integrity of two key parliamentary committees is at stake. The civil society activist said that the country was in a highly critical phase of debt restructuring following a severe economic crisis. Tennakoon pointed out in terms of a condition of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan programme, the government’s debt management functions, previously carried out by the CBSL, were recently transferred to a new institution established under the General Treasury—the Public Debt Management Office (PDMO).
by Shamindra Ferdinando
The number of patients hospitalised due to viral illnesses, including dengue fever, had increased significantly, health officials said yesterday, adding that there had been a rise in daily dengue-related admissions.
Acting Director of the National Dengue Control Unit Dr. Kapila Kannangara said Sri Lanka had recorded 41,144 dengue cases as of Saturday (13).
He said more than half of the reported cases—around 51 percent—were from the Western Province.
According to Dr. Kannangara, the number of dengue patients admitted to hospital daily had reached 750, but it had declined to around 630. However, he cautioned that infection levels remained “very high,” despite the slight drop in hospital admissions.
The dengue death toll has risen to 24, prompting several hospitals to issue red alerts amid continued pressure on wards treating incoming patients.
Health officials warned that the situation could worsen if case numbers continued to rise. Dr. Kannangara noted that the growing burden on healthcare facilities could eventually exceed system capacity.
The public has been urged to take preventive measures to eliminate mosquito breeding sites and to seek prompt medical attention if dengue symptoms develop.
by Chaminda Silva
Former President and UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has warned that Sri Lanka is heading towards a severe economic crisis, alleging that the current administration is steering the country towards “total collapse.”
Addressing a meeting of the UNP Working Committee at the party headquarters on Flower Road on Thursday, Wickremesinghe claimed that the government was facing mounting difficulties on multiple fronts, with the economy continuing to deteriorate.
He also accused the administration of pursuing policies that, he said, marginalised war heroes and Buddhist monks.
Wickremesinghe expressed concern over what he described as an erosion of fundamental and legal rights, citing the arrest and alleged ill-treatment of former State Intelligence Service Chief Suresh Sallay as an example. He said the rising cost of living had emerged as one of the main concerns of the public.
Commenting on the political situation, the former President said the Opposition had not been able to forge unity among the anti-government forces and called for greater coordination among Opposition parties and groups. He advocated a phased mobilisation strategy, beginning at village and electorate level, instead of attempting to address all issues simultaneously.
Wickremesinghe also announced a series of political campaigns and rallies aimed at strengthening the Opposition movement. The programme is scheduled to commence in Kandy this weekend, with subsequent events planned in Kurunegala and Kalutara.
He said the UNP was engaged in discussions with several political parties and organisations, including those led by Minister Jeevan Thondaman, with a view to forming a broader political alliance.Wickremesinghe urged party members to expedite discussions and arrive at a collective decision on the way forward to address the country’s challenges.
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