Mozambique: At least 16 children die of severe acute malnutrition in Manica province – AIM

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Mozambique: At least 16 children die of severe acute malnutrition in Manica province – AIM

9:25 CAT | 03 Aug 2023

FILE - For illustration purposes only. The theme for World Breastfeeding Week 2023 is "Let's make breastfeeding and work, work!" World Breastfeeding Week is observed during the first week of August every year. The week-long event tries to create awareness about the importance of breastfeeding for proper development of new-borns [File photo: UNICEF/AIM]

At least 16 children under 15 years of age have died, in the central Mozambican province of Manica, as a result of severe acute malnutrition in the first half of the current year.

The figure, which represents a reduction of 19 cases when compared to the same period in 2022, was revealed on Tuesday, in Chimoio, by the wife of the Secretary of State for Manica, Celsa Dick, during the launch of World Breastfeeding Week.

In the same period, the health authorities diagnosed 2,789 children suffering from acute malnutrition, compared to 3,819 last year, which is a decline of 27 per cent.

The districts of Báruè, Chimoio, Mossurize and Gôndola have the highest number of cases of severe acute malnutrition in children under 15 years of age.

To mark infant breastfeeding week, several awareness-raising activities will be held during the week on the importance of exclusive breast milk feeding for children up to six months of age.

“The week also serves to reflect on the participation of women and society in general in the care to be observed so that children grow up healthy”, she said.

Source: AIM