Nepal: A micronutrient survey planned for 2025 but halted due to funding crunch, is now set to start soon, as the US government has provided $3 million for the study.
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| Source: Unicef |
Officials said that the
survey will determine the status of vitamin A, iron, folic acid, iodine, and
zinc, breastfeeding practices, and the prevalence of anaemia, among others, in
the Nepali population.
The findings will also help
formulate policies and make decisions on whether to continue ongoing health
programmes that have continued for decades, according to officials.
“This is a very crucial
study, which was suspended last year due to a funding crunch,” said Lila Bikram
Thapa, chief of the Nutrition Section at the Family Welfare Division, under the
Department of Health Services. “Without an updated report, we would not have an
accurate picture of the disease status. Now, the US government is funding the
study through the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).”
The nationwide survey, which
is carried out every 10 years, was originally planned with financial assistance
from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
However, the plan was suspended indefinitely after the US government froze nearly all US assistance worldwide after Donald Trump assumed office for his second term in January last year.
“We will hold a formal meeting next week and conclude the remaining
New Era is a non-governmental
research agency that has carried out various national level research in Nepal,
including the Nepal Demographic Health Surveys.
“This time, we plan to check
lead levels in the general population as lead contamination has emerged as a
serious public health issue in Nepal,” said Thapa.
A recent study by the Centre for Public Health and Environmental Development (CEPHED) found high concentrations in nearly one-third of cosmetic products including gajal (a black eyeliner also known as kajal) and sindoor (vermilion powder), and toothpaste sold in Nepal. Millions of people, including women and children, in the country have been found exposed to the poisonous metal.
The 2016 survey had studied
the condition of drinking water, sanitation, child feeding practices, dietary
diversity, vitamin A supplementation and deworming, iron supplementation,
vitamin A and deworming among women, blood disorder status, nutrition status of
adolescent girls, anaemia, iron deficiency, zinc deficiency, salt consumption
and iodine level among the Nepalis.
Officials say that the new
study will evaluate the outcomes of vitamin A supplementation and fortification
programmes, which will ultimately help the government and policymakers to
formulate evidence-based policies.
Vitamin A supplementation and
deworming campaigns, carried out twice a year in April and October, since 2003 are
credited with eliminating night blindness among children and reducing the
under-five mortality by 23 percent.
Likewise, based on the
findings of the new study, officials will decide the appropriate amount of
iodine to add to salt. The 2016 survey report showed that more than two-thirds
68 percent of the population consumed iodine in excess of recommended levels,
which resulted in high prevalence of hyperthyroidism.
Doctors suspect that the high
iodine content in the salt sold in Nepal could be among the reasons for the
high prevalence of several non-communicable diseases, including thyroid
disorders and hypertension.
Similarly, changing dietary
patterns and increased consumption of processed foods (including packaged
soups) have also raised the prevalence of hypertension and cardiovascular
diseases, they say.
Officials say the government
does not invest in data generation and independent studies, and most officials
think it is a waste of national resources. Moreover, the data collected through
government channels are also not considered credible by international agencies,
as officials can manipulate them to show progress.
Hence, an independent study,
such as the one to be carried out by UNICEF, is essential for reliable or internationally
acceptable data, according to officials.
Arjun Poudel
kathmandupost
