Nearly 1 million children under the age of five and women in Sri Lanka suffer from malnutrition, a survey conducted covering all the nine provinces has revealed.
According to the survey, the number of malnourished people across the country is 971,888, including 300,746 children under the age of five and 671,142 women, Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said in Parliament.
The Western Province recorded the highest number of malnourished citizens including 85,847 children and 196,197 women.
Meanwhile, 30,393 malnourished children and 126,976 malnourished women were reported in the Central Province while 37,032 children and 79,254 women were reported in the Southern Province.
The Minister said that there are 47,765 children and 68,763 women suffering from malnutrition in the North Western Province and 19,067 children and 38,869 women in the North Central Province.
In addition, there are 18,278 children and 46,175 women in Uva province and 17,180 children and 54,394 women in Sabaragamuwa province who are suffering from malnutrition.
