According to the provincial nutrition supervisor, Carmen Mossovela, 148 deaths were recorded in the first half of the year, an increase compared to the same period in 2019, when 95 children died of malnutrition.
Of the total number of cases identified, in the 13 special health units treating cases of malnutrition, 204 have improved, while the remaining 1023 children under five remain ill.
Carmen Mossovela, cited by Angop, attributed the increase in the number of cases to the decrease in control and prevention actions by the communities and the delay in seeking treatment.
Early weaning and poor nutrition of minors, due to negligence or lack of nutritional knowledge of parents and guardians, especially in rural areas, were identified by the responsible as the main causes of malnutrition cases.
She said that in many cases there are associated diseases such as malaria, HIV/AIDS, respiratory diseases and acute diarrhoea, which lead to the hospitalization and death of many children.
