Child malnutrition a growing crisis in KL, says health minister

 Dzulkefly Ahmad says a national survey has shown that nearly a quarter of children in Kuala Lumpur are stunted, 12.4% are underweight, and 8% affected by wasting.

Health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad with Seputeh MP Teresa Kok at the launch of a community feeding programme to tackle malnutrition. (Facebook pic)

KUALA LUMPUR:

Malnutrition among children under five in Kuala Lumpur is worrying, with a national survey showing that 23.4% of children in the federal territory are stunted, says health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad.

He said the survey showed that 12.4% were underweight, 8% were affected by wasting and 7.5% were overweight.

“These figures are more than just statistics. Behind every percentage is a child going through a critical stage of development, and a family hoping for the support they need,” he said when launching an urban community feeding programme with Seputeh MP Teresa Kok.

Affected children between one and six years old are provided with six months of support, including monthly growth monitoring, nutritious food baskets, and fresh fruit and vegetables every two weeks. Similar programmes exist in the Lembah Pantai and Wangsa Maju parliamentary constituencies.

Dzulkefly said the country is grappling with a double burden of malnutrition, with undernutrition existing alongside overnutrition.

He said the health ministry is taking a proactive approach by visiting communities to identify at-risk children who do not regularly attend health facilities. - FMT