NEW DELHI, India (NNN-Bernama) -- India has the second highest percentage of underweight children below the age of five, the Health and Family Welfare Ministry told the parliament upper house on Tuesday.
Pneumonia and diarrhoea are the leading causes of death among children under five, with both diseases contributing to 22 per cent of deaths for this group, said State minister Sudip Bandyopadhyay in referring to the World Health Statistics report 2012.
For prevention and control of these diseases, the minister said awareness on sanitation and hygiene is created among mothers in the communities and on the causes and treatment of diarrhoea through health education, Press Trust of India reported.
"Antibiotics for treatment of pneumonia and dysentery are made available through the public health system," Bandyopadhyay said.
To check high infant mortality rate, various vaccines under a universal immunisation programme are provided to children to protect them against diphtheria, pertussis, measles and tuberculosis.
A recent survey shows the prevalence of underweight children in 100 districts has decreased from 53.1 per cent in 2002-2004 to 42 per cent last year. -- NNN-BERNAMA
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