Child Health - Sik district

Child Health

There are various aspects of child health:

- Nutrition
- Growth & Development
- Immunization
- Maternal and Child Health Clinic
- School Health

Millennium Development Goals (for child health)

- Goal 4: Reduce child mortality
- Target 5: Reduce by two-thirds, between 1990 and 2015, the under-five mortality rate
Under-five mortality rate
Infant (under 1) mortality rate
Proportion of 1-year-old children immunised against measles

The National Breastfeeding Policy (2006) states:
“All mothers are encouraged to breastfeed their babies exclusively with breast milk from birth until 6 months of age and thereafter to continue until the child is 2 years old. Complementary foods should be introduced when the baby is 6 months old.”

World Breastfeeding Week 2009 is 1-7 August 2009

Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative
Ten steps to successful breastfeeding [A joint WHO/UNICEF statement (1989)]
Every facility providing maternity services and care for newborn infants should :
1. Have a written breastfeeding policy that is routinely communicated to all health care staff.
2. Train all health care staff in skills necessary to implement this policy.
3. Inform all pregnant women about the benefits and management of breastfeeding.
4. Help mothers initiate breastfeeding within half-hour of birth
5. Show mothers how to breastfeed, and how to maintain lactation even if they should be separated from their infants.
6. Give newborn infants no food or drink other than breast milk unless medically indicated.
7. Practise rooming-in allows mothers and infants to remain together-24 hours a day.
8. Encourage breastfeeding on demand.
9. Give no artificial teats or pacifiers (also called dummies or soothers) to breastfeeding infants.
10. Foster the establishment of breastfeeding support group and refer to them on discharge.

Breastfeeding and Child Survival
1. Follow the breastfeeding policy
- exclusive breastfeeding from birth to first 4-6 months
- no pacifier
- additional food only be given after the baby 4-6 months old

2. Advantages of breast milk compare to formulated milk
- prevent infection(bacteria, virus), respiratory infection and diarrhea
- prevent the baby from allergic
- sudden infant rate decreases

3. Colostrums
- high proteins, fat soluble vitamins (Vit A, D, E, K), zinc and sodium
- Low lactose(4%), fats and water soluble vitamins (Vit B complex, C)
- High vitamin K (prevent Haemorrhagic Disease of Newborn)
- High sIgA
- Passive immunization
- Stimulate passing out of meconium – to prevent neonatal jaundice
- Contain “Bifidus factors” which encourage the growth of Lactobacillus Bifidus – to prevent the growth of pathogenic E.coli.
- Active enzymes like lipase, lactase, lysozyme
- Antioxidant, Beta kerotene

4. Advantages for the mother
- oxytocin produced during breastfeeding will help the involution of uterus and prevent postpartum hemorrhage.
- Natural contraception
- Decrease the risk of breast cancer
- Decreases post partum psychosis


To overcome nutritional diseases and deficiencies, especially prevalent in rural areas, the Government initiated the multi-agency “Applied Food and Nutrition” programme in the 1970s and the “School Supplementary Feeding Programme” to provide children from low income families with food supplements including milk.
As a result, acute malnutrition is no longer a problem in our country.
Trends between 1990 and 2001 in under-five weight for age show that not more than 1% are severely underweight. On the other hand, Malaysia has begun to see the emergence of overweight and obesity in both children and adults.

School Supplementary Feeding Program (SSFP)[Rancangan Makanan Tambahan(RMT)]

• The main objective of SSFP is to improve the health and nutritional status of children, especially those from the rural areas, through a provision of a wholesome and balanced meal.


• To improve health and food habits and to prevent the occurrence of malnutrition among school children


• To educate children on food selection


• To encourage the participation of parents, teachers and public in the welfare of the school


• To strengthen health and nutrition programs in schools

Other informations will be posted soon. .. .