Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
ruurmo
Caracas (Agenzia Fides) - Caritas, together with organizations such as Médicos Unidos and Radar de los Barrios, has recently promoted a day of monitoring in the western area of Caracas during which assistance to 56 children was carried out. Out of a total of 38 school age children, 34% were found suffering from various nutritional deficiencies. 7% were suffering from moderate to severe malnutrition and more prone to get sick because of poor diet. In the case of children under five years of age, among the 18 children examined, Caritas found that half suffer from some form of malnutrition. Only 22% presented a normal nutritional status that corresponds to age, weight and height. To try to prevent further weight losses, Caritas has given vitamins and extra food to the families of children who are underweight. 17% of the children who were weighed during the monitoring have stunted growth. Diseases caused by water quality have also been reported, in fact, children are also infected by parasites and scabies. During the months of October and December 2016, Caritas carried out the same monitoring in 25 parishes. Out of 818 children under five years of age, 9% had cases of moderate and severe malnutrition. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 17/02/2017)
