Anaemia or iron deficiency which leaves a child pale and weak has been found to be rampant with one in every four children (25%) falling victim, according to a recent survey. Sugar, coconut and rice are the staple food of 99% of Sri Lankan children, the national survey on nutrition has revealed.
This along with other disturbing findings on malnutrition has sent shock waves among nutritionists.Acute malnutrition among children under five is 12%, while chronic malnutrition (stunting) is 19%. Malnutrition is the lack of healthy food in the diet or an excessive intake of unhealthy food leading to physical harm.
"Anaemia or iron deficiency can lead not only to numerous growth problems but also affect their studies. When anaemic children become anaemic adults production and work capacity are low, having an impact on development," said Dr. Renuka Jayatissa, the, Medical Research Institute's Nutrition Department Head, who conducted the 'Nutrition and Food Security Survey'.
The survey had been conducted in collaboration with UNICEF and the World Food Programme in 2009 in nine districts, one each from every province, to get a national representative sample. The districts were Colombo, Ratnapura, Anuradhapura, Kurunegala, Trincomalee, Jaffna, Badulla, Nuwara Eliya and Hambantota.
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