March 5: Women and children of earthquake-hit districts of western Nepal have been suffering from malnutrition. It was found during health camps conducted at different places of the quake-hit districts including Jajarkot, Rukum West and Salyan in the last three months.    
A total of 46 health camps were organized under the 'minimum health service programme' launched in the disaster-hit districts.    

The women and children visiting the health camps shared that they were deprived of nutritious foods, according to Nepal Family Planning Association.

More than 7,300 earthquake survivors underwent general health checkup in the camps. Among them, 944 were male and 6,355 were female.     
Similarly, 4,109 women were screened for cervical cancer.    
The health camps were conducted at Bheri municipality, Nalgad municipality, Barekot rural municipality and Kushe rural municipality of Jajarkot, as well as Athbiskot municipality and Sanibheri rural municipality of Rukum West.    
The association informed that the camp visitors had complained that they were deprived of adequate food intake while they were already affected badly by the quake. There was no proper housing either. It resulted into weak health condition, the association added.    
The women and children from Kushe and Barekot were suffering most from malnutrition. The adults there lacked awareness on the use of family planning contraceptives.    
Mayor of Nalgad municipality, Dambar Rawat, admitted that there was threat to food security to the quake survivors.

Similarly, Barekot rural municipality chair Bir Bahadur Giri and Mayor of Athbiskot municipality Rabi KC shared similar plight. -- RSS