In measles hotspots, hunger, an older malaise, is hastening fatalities
Hindustan TimesMumbai: Just when we had stopped obsessing about daily Covid caseload, there is a new cause for worry. Dr Subhash Salunke, former Director of Health Services for Maharashtra who heads the task force said, “Malnourished and not being vaccinated can land a child into serious trouble in terms of measles. A child with no access to good nutrition has to be hospitalised if they develop complications due to grade 4 malnutrition.” Senior pediatrician and former vice-chancellor of Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, Dr Mrudula Phadke, who has done several researches on nutrition said the pandemic has left a deep impact on the health and nutrition levels of vulnerable communities. In the lane next to hers Sehrunisa Khan whose two children - a five-month-old daughter and a three-year-old son - recovered from measles recently said they initially took their daughter to Rajawadi Hospital but returned home when they were referred to Kasturba Hospital instead. “Primary health system is also not oriented to the needs of migrant families, nor does it provide a full range of services from prevention to treatment, diagnostics and awareness,” she said.
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