130,000 malnourished kids in one decade
July 28, 2010 (Wednesday)

PAPA

More than 130,000 children in Malaysia were malnourished between 2000 and last year.

Deputy Health Minister Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin said of the 130,888 children, 2,882 were found to be undernourished last year and given food baskets with 45.9% of them being orang asli.

She said that RM2.4mil was allocated to provide nutritious food to 77,659 malnourished children aged below five years.

Rosnah said the allocation was part of the programme to ensure that children obtained the right food intake to ensure good growth.

“Of the number, 53,229 cases have been provided with food baskets and 24.3% of them have shown good progress,” she said, at a food basket distribution programme in Kampung Penderas in Kuala Krau here on Monday.

Her speech was read by the ministry’s management division deputy secretary-general Datuk Ahmad Shafii Saidin.

Rosnah also said the country’s children food status for those aged five and below was found to be good registering 93% and of normal body weight.

As for the orang asli children from the same age group in Kuala Krau, Rosnah said they were medium-sized with 73% having normal body weight.

“Since there are means to improve their condition, the ministry has put in place programmes and activities to enhance their awareness and knowledge on the importance of providing nutritious food to the children.

“The programme is conducted for orang asli nationwide,” she added. Source

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