19 March 2024 12:00 am Views - 205
By Dayaratne Embogama
Ceylon Teachers Union has said that 28 per cent of the children between five and 19 years of age in Anuradhapura District and 27 per cent of the schoolchildren in the Polonnaruwa District were suffering from malnutrition.
Its President Priyantha Fernando said the children in Nochchiyagama, Wilachchiya, and Rambewa divisions in Anuradhapura District and those in Welikanda, Dimbulagala and Mahampitiya divisions in Polonnaruwa District were the worst affected.
“The rate of undernourished children in the North Central Province is increasing in large proportions every year. This has resulted in a decline in attendance in schools and they are not active. According to medical advice meat, fish and eggs should be added to the diet of undernourished children at regular intervals of three hours. However, the prevailing economic constraints would not permit the parents to adhere to the medical advice.”
“The Lancet Magazine of England has carried out a survey based on data pertaining to several countries and administrative regions to find that 860,000 children in Sri Lanka are suffering from malnutrition and are underweight. This is a clear indication that the education of a majority of children is in danger.” he further said.
*This has resulted in a decline in attendance in schools