Trabuom (Ash), May 19, GNA - The Bosomtwe-Atwima-Kwanwoma District Health Management Team recorded 25 admissions for children suffering from kwashiorkor at its various health facilities in the first quarter of this year.

This is against the nine cases recorded the same period in 2004, local authorities say.

Mr Ruben Bedzra, the District Nutrition Officer, attributed the increase to the high malnutrition rate as a result of poverty, poor feeding habits, "and to some extent, illiteracy."

He was speaking at a durbar of chiefs and people of Trabuom to climax activities marking the district's Child Health Week celebration. As part of the celebration, children under five years were given vitamin 'A' supplementation, while some were immunised and retreated kits for bed nets distributed to them.

Mr Bedzra expressed concern about the malnutrition rate in the district and appealed to parents to always send their malnourished children to health centres for prompt assistance.

In an address read on her behalf, Dr Agatha Akua Bonney, the District Director of Health Services, expressed satisfaction with the steady reduction of malaria cases in the district.

"Cases of malaria fell from 46 per cent in 2003 to 43 per cent in 2004", she stated and observed that the success in reduction of the disease was made possible through various pragmatic intervention including the distribution of treated bed nets to pregnant women and spraying of suspected breeding grounds of mosquitoes.

Nana Asuma Karikari II, Trabuomhene, appealed to the government to upgrade the Trabuom Health Centre to the status of a hospital to enable it to effectively deal with the numerous health problems in the area. 19 May 05