In a bid to combat malnutrition, the state Health Department has decided to form a Nutrition Task Force.

The mortality rate of children below five years is a disturbing 60.9 per cent in Gujarat-apparently due to severe malnutrition.

But it is far worse in states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Delhi and Himachal Pradesh, according to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) — 3.

The state Health Department, however, contradicts the NFHS findings.

According to it, the prevalence rate of severe malnutrition in children under five is 45 per cent in the state, and some 52 per cent children become stunted, while the rate of ‘wasting’ is 19 per cent. The national prevalence rate in these three indices is 42, 48 and 20 per cent respectively.

According to the NFHS-3 data, even states like Gujarat and Kerala have been witnessing a rise in the number of malnourished children. Both states saw an increase of two per cent between 1991 and 2001.

Dr S C Vashishta, Joint Director, Maternal and Child Health Care, Department of Health and Family Welfare, said: “It is critical to have an integrated approach involving all departments in tandem, such as women and child development, education, food and civil supplies and health.”

The all-India IMR is 58 among every 1,000. But the states having a worst record are as follows: Uttar Pradesh (73), Rajasthan (65), Arunachal Pradesh (61) and Gujarat (50).

K L Khant, Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, told The Indian Express that the government has now asked to form a Nutrition Task Force, which will have units functioning in every district. These units will monitor and evaluate activities and indicators under various nutritional programmes.

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