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.
Kuala Lumpur faces a growing child malnutrition crisis, according to health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad. A national survey reveals that 23.4% of children under five in the federal territory are stunted, while 12.4% are underweight, 8% suffer from wasting, and 7.5% are overweight. These alarming statistics represent children at critical development stages and families in need of support.
Addressing the issue, health minister Dzulkefly launched an urban community feeding programme with Seputeh MP Teresa Kok. The programme provides six months of support, comprising monthly growth monitoring, nutritious food baskets, and fresh fruit and vegetables every two weeks for children aged one to six years old.
The health ministry is tackling the double burden of malnutrition in the country, dealing with both undernutrition and overnutrition simultaneously. Dzulkefly emphasizes that the health ministry is proactively visiting communities to identify at-risk children who don't frequently visit health facilities.
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- Child malnutrition a growing crisis in KL, says health minister freemalaysiatoday.com
