Energy powder for children that the local units distribute for free remains largely unused in Makwanpur, a recent survey conducted by the local units in the district reveals.

After the country adopted federalism, local units started distributing energy powders (what the locals call ‘Baal Vitae’) to children between the ages of six months and two years to tackle malnourishment among children.

The powder is distributed thrice until the child completes two years.

But only a few parents come to take the second and third tranches of the powder, officials at Thaha Municipality say.

The municipality had targeted to distribute the powder to 1,332 children in the fiscal year 2018-19. Only 558 parents collected the powder the first time while the number dwindled to 228 and 111 on the second and third times, according to the health bureau of the municipality.

The numbers are more woeful in Raksirang Municipality, where the numbers of each instalment are 40, 38 and 7, out of the targeted 228.

In Bagmati Municipality, out of the targeted 1,118, only 205 parents collected the powder in the first instalment, while the number dwindled to 72 and 23 in the consecutive instalments.

“The provision was made to ensure the children attain proper mental development during the crucial two years,” said Bijaya Kapri, health coordinator at Raksirang Rural Municipality. “But the guardians have not paid enough attention to this due to the lack of awareness. Often we have had to destroy the powder in stock.”

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