Vital dietary and meals safety points amongst kids below 5 in Hatay, the southern Turkish metropolis hardest hit by the February 2023 earthquakes, had been uncovered by a joint examine carried out by two distinguished Turkish well being organisations, underscoring the pressing want for intervention.
The Turkish Medical Affiliation (TTB) and the Well being and Social Service Employees’ Union (SES) shared findings from their malnutrition research in Samandağ, Antakya, and Defne districts throughout a press convention on 9 January. The research, specializing in kids below 5, uncovered extreme dietary deficiencies and meals insecurity points exacerbated by the earthquakes.
Dr. Şebnem Korur Fincancı, president of the TTB Central Council, highlighted the dearth of governmental effort in addressing these points, regardless of the TTB’s steady fieldwork for 11 months. “It’s been over 11 months, but no important change has been noticed. With family incomes not even reaching the poverty line, the disaster-stricken space faces extreme deprivation. The federal government should act swiftly to resolve these points, failing which it could be accountable for violating the proper to a wholesome life,” she acknowledged.
Nazan Karacabey, co-president of SES, spoke of the voluntary efforts by the TTB-SES Coordination over the previous 11 months. “Practically a yr has handed, but there are nonetheless many individuals within the earthquake zone who can’t meet fundamental survival standards. Our work will proceed till the general public has entry to their proper to a wholesome life,” she added.
Dr. Mehmet Zencir from the TTB Public Well being Department initiated the presentation by stressing that disasters are the best risk to meals safety and security, with malnutrition being probably the most important long-term results. He highlighted the vulnerability of kids below 5 to acute malnutrition in emergency conditions, indicating that prime ranges on this age group are indicative of acute malnutrition within the normal inhabitants.
Dietitian Dicle Dilan Salman mentioned the outcomes regarding infants and youngsters aged six months to 2 years, specializing in the dearth of breastfeeding, inadequate consumption of meals teams, and irregular entry to meals and water. The presentation additionally coated points associated to residing circumstances, continual diet issues, well being points stemming from diet, meals consumption and storage circumstances, support, and hygiene points.
Nurse Leyla Kalın, who participated within the fieldwork, condemned the imposition of inhumane residing circumstances and cited a latest fireplace in Samandağ, which resulted within the loss of life of two kids, for instance of the hazards confronted. She additionally famous that the problems of inequality and insecurity are extra acutely skilled by refugee kids affected by the earthquake.
Dr. Sami Reyhan, a member of the Hatay Medical Chamber’s Board of Administrators, summarised the state of affairs within the metropolis: “Dwelling circumstances are poor. Households of 5-6 are attempting to stay in 21 sq. meter containers the place the bathroom, kitchen and bed room overlap. The infrastructure is insufficient. There are frequent energy outages. Fires happen ceaselessly, however only a few are reported within the media. The revenue state of affairs is inadequate. Unemployment is excessive. Public transport is just about non-existent.”
Dr. Münevver Kaynak Türkmen, a retired college member of the Neonatology Division at Adnan Menderes College Medical School, addressed the quick and long-term well being points associated to insufficient and unbalanced diet. She spoke in regards to the well being issues that may come up from cerebral developmental deficiencies and dietary deficiencies in the long run, calling for pressing measures.
Key findings from the presentation included:
– Just one-third (33.5%) of households have common entry to meals.
– One-third of households lack correct meals storage circumstances, with causes together with the absence of a fridge, its small measurement and energy outages.
– Practically half of the households haven’t any or inadequate entry to water, attributed to distribution points and water cuts.
– The variety of kids with out each day meals will increase with age, reaching 7.2% at 4 years.
– Roughly half of the youngsters affected by the earthquake will not be breastfed in the course of the first six months of life.
– 6.2% of kids below 5 exhibit stunting (3.7% stunted, 2.5% severely stunted); 8.9% are underweight (5.5% underweight, 3.4% severely underweight), and 4.4% are obese.
– Stunting is extra prevalent in kids below two years of age (11.3% in kids aged 0-11 months and 10.5% in these aged 12-23 months).
– Underweight is most typical in kids aged 0-11 months.
– Obese is considerably highest in kids aged 0-11 months, with a complete prevalence of 14.5% (13.3% in boys and 15.4% in women).
– Within the refugee inhabitants, the general prevalence of stunting is 8.8%, with extreme stunting at 3.8%. The general prevalence of underweight is 6.3%, with extreme underweight at 2.5%. The prevalence of obese amongst refugee kids is 5.7%.
– Relating to Physique Mass Index (BMI), with 35 kids (17%) exhibiting no change in percentile, 119 kids (57.8%) exhibiting regression, and 52 kids (25.2%) exhibiting progress.
The suggestions included:
– Instant enchancment of kitchen circumstances to make sure no family is and not using a kitchen.
– Provision of enough, culturally and regionally acceptable meals help for youngsters.
– Institution of meals help focusing on all the inhabitants but additionally specializing in high-risk teams.
– Monitoring of kids’s diet in main healthcare providers within the context of catastrophe actuality.
– Well being monitoring for high-risk teams resembling kids with continual illnesses or vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
– Truthful distribution of meals and water help, embracing group participation and tailoring help to family wants.
– Acceleration of the transition from short-term to everlasting residing areas.
– Enchancment of storage circumstances and elevated fridge help.
– Minimisation of electrical energy and water cuts.
– Help for breastfeeding girls when it comes to high quality meals.
– Provision of vitamin and mineral dietary supplements.
– Avoidance of junk meals in distributions.
– Guaranteeing environmental hygiene.
– Provision of water, sanitation and hygiene circumstances.
– Financial empowerment of households and elevated job alternatives.
– Prevention of the reconstruction of cities on agricultural lands in Hatay.