At least 146 children are suffering from malnutrition in the district, according to the data of District Health Office (DHO). 

The officials have found the children suffering from malnutrition during the 

five-month Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM) programme held in both East and West Rukum. The programme was organised from mid-July to mid-November of 2017. 

Of the total malnourished children, 87 are girls. Kali Bahadur Oli, the focal person at the DHO on the nutrition programme, said these children are unable to receive nutritious diet and proper care. 

The outpatient services have been operating in 13 health facilities of East and West Rukum under the IMAM programme to provide treatment for the affected children. Oli said they had provided treatment to 66 malnourished children and 64 others are undergoing treatment in the health institutions. 

The malnourished children are mostly found in Aathbiskot, Bafikot, Kankri, Simli, Kotjahari, Simrutu, Syalapakha, Pwang and Koli, among other remote villages. The DHO, suspecting that the number of malnourished children could be higher, has mobilised women volunteers in the villages to provide treatment. 

In the past, the malnourished children of Rukum were taken to Dang or Nepalgunj for treatment before the IMAM programme started. Nowadays, the children are treated in 13 health facilities in East and West Rukum.