Healthy, but some risky symptoms 

Nagaland’s report card in India’s first Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey (CNNS) can be deemed very ‘healthy.’  By all accounts, the State’s health and family welfare department should be commended for its efforts to reach flagship health and other related services to the grass root level; at least, in the case of maternal, reproductive and child health.  


The survey conducted during 2016-18 in 30 states/Union Territories with technical support of the UNICEF assessed the malnutrition burden amongst children and adolescents and was released recently by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.


Several positive signs in many categories considered pivotal for healthy and all round development of a child were perceptible in Nagaland. 


For instance, the CCNS date revealed that Nagaland had the lowest rate of the prevalence of anaemia among pre-schoolers (1-4 years) and adolescents (10-19 years) at 8%; among school age children (5–9 years), it was one of the lowest (9.5%). 


The prevalence of iron and zinc deficiencies among children and adolescents were also relatively low. The state also had ‘nil’ vitamin B12 deficiency among pre-schoolers, while showing notable low percentage for the other two cohorts. 


Consumption of cereals for both children and adolescents were also 100%; for pulses or beans, the former had more intakes while the latter showe d a little disdain. Nagaland had mid-range scores in the consumption fish, meat and eggs. 


Consequently, Nagaland was bracketed among those states with lowest prevalence of stunting and underweight among children aged 0–4 years.


Apart from the survey, Nagaland has also shown remarkable achievement in lowering Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) - from 26 Per 1000 Live Births in 2008 to 12 in 2016, to being the lowest in India at 7, according to the Sample Registration System (SRS) Bulletin released in May, 2019. 


However, there were many unhealthy symptoms. Take the case of Vitamin A rich food and vegetables for children aged 2–4 years; the state’s rate at 48%, pale  in comparison when compared to higher performing states like Meghalaya And Sikkim at 90% and 80% respectively.  Consumption of fruits and vegetables among the aforesaid age-group was also low while intake of green leafy vegetables and fruits for children aged 5–9 years was among the lowest in India. 


In addition, percentage of children (aged 6–23 months) receiving a minimum acceptable diet in Nagaland was mere 6.4%, where state like Sikkim had 35.9%.


Again, Nagaland along with Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Meghalaya, and Assam were the states with highest prevalence of acute malnutrition by MUAC. Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) is described as a “quick and simple way to determine whether or not a child is malnourished using a simple colored plastic strip” and denotes acute malnutrition.  


On the other end, overweight and obesity at an early age, an increasing public health concern in India according to CCNS, showed a risky symptom for the state. Nagaland and Goa had the highest prevalence of overweight in children 5 to 9 years at 15% each. Likewise, the highest percentage of children with abdominal obesity was observed in Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Goa (7% each). Though the percentage of overweight among adolescents aged 10–19 years were shown to be lower at 8.6%, the high rates at lower age depicts a 'growing' concern. As the childhood obesity results in adults with obesity, the likelihood of developing serious health problems increases in future.


Juxtaposed with figure on acute malnutrition, the data on overweight and obesity in Nagaland seems to be refelctive of another negative socio-economic concern – a burgeoning gap between the upper and lower quartile of the society.  


These unhealthy symptoms should not be ignored and policy makers as well as other stakeholders need find holistic remedies.