Kanchanpur, Nov 16: Thirteen-month-old son of Puja Shahi from Janaki Tole, Bhimdatta-18, was taken to Mahakali Provincial Hospital for routine vaccination when health workers noticed that the child looked extremely thin and weak.
After weighing him, they found he was only 6.4 kilograms, far below the expected 11 kilograms for his age.
Realizing her child was severely underweight, Puja immediately admitted him to the hospital’s Nutrition Rehabilitation Home (NRH) for treatment.
“It has been ten days since we were admitted. In these ten days, my son has gained about 700 grams,” she said, adding that she learned a completely different method of feeding after coming to the NRH, where children receive four meals of nutritious food daily.
A similar case was seen with Gita Sewa of Bhimdatta Municipality. Her child was also referred to the NRH after health workers found inadequate weight gain during a vaccination visit.
“At home we used to feed our baby once or twice a day. Here, both mother and baby are given four nutritious meals every day,” she said.
Bishnu Bohora from Bhimdatta-3 has also admitted her one-year-old child to the center. Health workers say that although malnutrition has long been a concern in rural areas, in recent years urban children are increasingly being diagnosed with severe malnutrition.
Rising cases despite free treatment services
According to Mahakali Provincial Hospital, 32 children have been admitted to the NRH in the current fiscal year.
The rehabilitation home, established in 2006, has a capacity of 10 beds, providing free treatment and nutrition counseling for children under five and their mothers.
NRH chief Indra Bhatt noted that although the number of admitted children appears lower over the past three years, a higher proportion now come from urban settlements.
She raised concerns about whether severe cases in the community are decreasing — or simply being missed due to reduced awareness programs.
She added that many mothers today are busy with work and unable to feed their children on time, which increases the risk of malnutrition.
District data shows severe malnutrition high
Despite a seemingly lower admission rate, district-level data shows that malnutrition remains widespread:
Fiscal Year 2079/80 BS
• Severe malnutrition: 375 girls, 281 boys
• Moderate malnutrition: 465 girls, 445 boys
Fiscal Year 2080/81 BS
• Severe: 444 girls, 393 boys
• Moderate: 82 girls, 61 boys
• Under 6 months: 24 children
Fiscal Year 2081/82 BS
• Severe: 363 girls, 246 boys
• Moderate: 18 girls, 26 boys
• Under 6 months: 31 children
Current Fiscal Year 2082/83 BS
• Severe: 95 girls, 96 boys
• Moderate: 69 girls, 36 boys
• Under 6 months: 9 children
District health office spokesperson Bipin Lekhak said the government is taking the issue seriously.
“Although data shows a gradual decline in malnutrition, reducing child mortality remains a major challenge,” he said.
Decline in exclusive breastfeeding contributing to malnutrition
Health workers warn that fewer mothers are exclusively breastfeeding due to work and other responsibilities.
Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months is essential because breast milk contains all necessary nutrients and protective antibodies that help prevent infections and malnutrition. #nepal #health #malnutrition
A report by Mahadev Awasthi
