T

he initiative to counsel mothers by volunteers about malnutrition is praiseworthy (“Counseling crucial to avoid malnutrition”, The Jakarta Post, Nov. 19).

It plays a vital role in creating awareness regarding balanced meals. The use of local products for home made meals for children is the best. It is cost effective and healthy.

The first five years of a child’s life are crucial. This is the time when the children grow most and maximum brain development takes place.

But at the same time they are weak and most susceptible to various infections during this period. So a child’s diet during this phase is very important.

Malnutrition is a problem which is prevalent worldwide. Various nutritional disorders occur during this period of a child’s life due to imbalanced or unhealthy diet.

However, in most cases, the cause of malnutrition is under nutrition where there is stunting, wasting and vitamin or mineral deficiency, most commonly kwashikor and marasamus. The mortality rate due to malnutrition is high during the first five years.

To improve the nutritional status of children this program could be mandatory in prenatal visits when pregnant women come for regular checkups.

New mothers could be provided with charts of information on a child’s diet from six months up to five years of age.

Besides nutritional advice, information regarding vaccination is essential.

Mandatory vaccines and a healthy diet can portect a child from many diseases.

If required, fortified foods can be helpful. Malnutrition is a condition millions of children die from every year. Timely intervention through counseling can go a long way in preventing it, and saving many lives.

Niharika Ghosh,
Purwakarta, West Java