GWANDA - Thirteen infants have died due to malnutrition-related cases in the district between the period January 2009 and January 2010, district medical officer for Gwanda Provincial Hospital said last week. (Pictured: Infants are dying from malnutrition)
Addressing medical practitioners during a workshop at a local hotel, Dr. Chimberengwa said cases of malnutrition had reached alarming levels in the province. From January 2009 until now, a total of 13 infants died of malnutrition in Gwanda district, said the officer. The workshop was organized by an International Non Governmental Organization World Vision in conjunction with UNICEF and was attended by 29 medical nurses from 10 clinics in the district.
Dr Chimberengwa also said pregnant women had been affected by lack of balanced diet nutrition. He advocated a programme to educate mothers. The reduction of kwashiorkor and other forms of malnutrition could be drastically reduced if communities were provided with relevant skills on nutrition management issues, said Chimberengwa. A World Vision Nutrition Adviser said that over the past few years, drought prone areas were experiencing an increase in chronic malnutrition, adding that this was critical. He called for urgent attention before more damage was done.