26 Feb 2017

Hukuntsi Sub-district council chairperson, Ms Goratwamang Tlhage has cautioned about high rates of malnutrition in Kgalagadi North.

Addressing councillors during a sub council meeting in Hukuntsi on Wednesday (February 22), Ms Tlhage stated that a recent Rapid Nutrition Assessment Survey by the health ministry confirmed that there were high cases of underweight and nutritional stunting in Hukuntsi sub-district.

Ms Tlhage indicated that the survey which was also supported by UNICEF reflected that nutritional stunting was 18 per cent for children between six and 11 months and 41 per cent for children between 24 and 35 months. She noted that underweight stood at 15 per cent and 28 per cent for children between the ages of 6-11 and 48-59 months respectively.  

She said 49 children were reported to be malnourished in Ukhwi and Inalegolo settlements.

Ms Tlhage said the findings from the survey indicated high severity which should be a great concern to the district.

Although direct feeding initiative had been implemented in affected areas, Ms Tlhage emphasised that more needed to be done to supplement the intervention.

She said a multi-disciplinary committee had been established to further assess the extent of malnutrition in under five population adding that the committee would eventually find ways to completely eradicate malnutrition in the district.

Furthermore, Ms Tlhage decried shortage of health personnel particularly medical doctors, at both Hukuntsi Primary Hospital and Kang clinic.

She said Kgalagadi North Health Management Team had only six of the required 13 doctors.

She said shortage of doctors made it impossible for regular outreach activities in settlements, a situation she said had financial bearing on both patients and the council as the health sector was expected to bring services closer to the community at all times.

Thus, she said a robust action was needed to address health sector related challenges in order to secure a healthy generation. ENDS