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Malnutrition is a big problem among B’luru slum-dwellers Lack of adequate medical facilities causes other problems

By Yashaswini Sri

Slum-dwellers in Bengaluru suffer malnutrition as they receive inadequate medical care and nutritious food compared to their counterparts in non-slum areas.

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Dr Anju Sood, a nutritionist,explained to The Observer how diet plays an important role in humans. “The major difference we can see between slum and non-slum areas is how the residents choose their nutrients. Slum residents have to compromise on nutrition because they cannot afford it. This draws major parallel lines between slum and non-slum residents. The second is immunity levels. Slum residents have recorded low immunity levels which gives space for high disease transmission.”

She continued: “Sure, doctors can prescribe supplements for them but it doesn’t cater to the overall deficiencies of a human body. It doesn’t solve the problem. Malnutrition can be defined and acknowledged from a person’s height. It is a major index to measure malnutrition. With a growing population, India has two extreme problems to attend to: Obesity among urban population and malnutrition among rural and slum population.”

The Observer visited slums of Ambedkar Nagar, Vinayaka Nagar, PG Halli, Laxminarayanapura, and Thubarahalli. While slums like Ambedkar Nagar have got houses under the PM Awas Yojana, many slums are awaiting concrete houses. Many private slums in Thubarahalli are yet to be recognised by the government of Karnataka. They have got no support from the government.

Government slums like Ambedkar Nagar and Laxminarayanapura might look well from outside, but as one goes inside, stench from unclean drains assails one’s nose.

BMC Public Health, an open access, peer-reviewed journal that considers articles on the epidemiology of disease, mentioned that out of 3,693 people at a slum in Bengaluru, 70.4 per cent were below the poverty line. Only-one third had a regular job. The average daily income was Rs 436 among men and Rs 213 among women. Cases of hypertension (35.5% of the screened population), diabetes (16.6%) and anemia (70.9%) were seen. Most of the people were screened for the first time. Almost half of the children under the age of five years were found stunted.

D. Basavaraju, a junior health inspector, Urban Prima- ry Health Care, PG Halli, said: “Slum residents are prone to many diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart and other body ailments. The food they consume does not do justice with the amount of work they do to earn their livelihood. Also, we face a problem while prescribing medicines to slum residents. The slum dwellers want only one tablet that can cure them from every bodily discomfort. However, that is not possible.”

Ravi Chandra, a health inspector at Pantrapalya, said: “At this PHC, we record patients from slums more than from the urban areas. Residents of Ambedkar Nagar and Vinayaka Nagar slums are often here for diagnosis. However, if we run out of stocks, or if there is any unavailability of medicines, we redirect them to private hospitals like Rajarajeshwari Multispecialty hospital.”

Mangalamma, a nurse working in Urban Primary Health Care Centre, Pantrapalya, said the tuberculosis (TB) transmission is higher in slum areas than in non- slum areas. “We have more TB patients from slums. While the situation is better after we created awareness among the residents of these slums, the

India has two extreme problems to attend to: Obesity among the urban population and malnutrition among the rural and slum population.

-Dr Anju Sood, a nutritionist

Everyone in my family works, yet we do not earn enough to make a livelihood. All we can afford is to go to a hospital if we fall seriously ill.

-Hanumanthappa, a resident of Laxminarayanapura

We are short of funds for providing just the basic amenities. With a population of 5.82 lakh in government-recognised slums, it is difficult to address this.

-Shankar Poojary, assistant director, Karnataka Slum Development Board

We have more TB patients from slums. While the situation is better after we created awareness among the residents of slums, the numbers are still high

-Mangalamma, a nurse in Pantarapalya

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EC, do not seize things indiscriminately Election checkposts that have been set up in various areas of Bengaluru are harassing people carrying bills and seizing materials with documentation. It is a tedious process later for citizens to retrieve their items. This needs to be ended. A list of items that have been seized with bills and without bills needs to be put on the Election Commission website.

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Quiz

1. What is the name of the biggest technology company in South Korea?

2. What is Barbie doll’s full name?

numbers are still high.”

Karthik (40), a resident of Ambedkar Nagar slum, said: “I have been a diabetic for so long that I don’t remember when I was not. I do not rely on the government’s medication. They create little awareness and do not have supply many times. I have started ayurvedic medication and it is doing its job.”

Siddhappa (45), a daily wages worker living in Ambedkar Nagar, said: “The houses built by the government have no ventilation provided and there is no space between the houses. I was so claustrophobic back then. Getting treatment for any kind of disease is difficult. If one catches a cold, everybody wakes up sneezing.”

Hanumanthappa (57), a resident of Laxminarayanapura, shared: “Being able to eat three times a day is a miracle for my family. Everyone in my family works, yet we do not earn enough to make a livelihood. All we can afford is to go to a hospital if we fall seriously ill.”

Kalaivani, a slum dweller in Thubarahalli said: “My daughter and I take iron pills prescribed by our doctor everyday because we are anemic. My daughter experiences irregular periods and we are always at the nearest health centre for treatment.”

Annapurna, an ASHA worker at Ambedkar Nagar slum, shared: “Residents here are reluctant to share their health issues with each other. The proximity of the houses in the slum is so close and clustered that it’s easier for communicable diseases to spread. Currently, we have 12 active TB cases in the slum.”

Residents of Thubarahalli and PG Halli were reluctant to speak to The Observer.

Shankar Poojary, assistant director, Karnataka Slum Development Board, said only 1 per cent of the state budget is allotted for welfare measures in slums. Bengaluru has 435 recognised slums.

“We are short of funds for providing just the basic amenities. Creating awareness among the residents is a tedious task. With a population of 5.82 lakh in government-recognised slums of Bengaluru....We implement only one programme occasionally: Information, Education and Communication, where we throw light on the importance of having better hygiene conditions and addressing any health disease at its root level.” yashaswini.s@iijnm.org

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4. How many hearts does an Octopus Have?

5. What is the furthest you can see with the naked eye?

6. The Madhubani style of painting is practiced in which state in India?

7. Which language was the Indian Constitution written in?

Around the City

Music Concert, April 5: The event will showcase the musical legacy of Jewish women who composed music during the Holocaust and in the aftermath of World War II. Ariela ,6 pm, at Aruna Sunderlal Auditorium, R T Nagar. Entry will be on a first come first serve basis.

Top 50 Women Icon April 8: Aloft Bengaluru Whitefield, Bangalore

Open mic with Writinge, April 9: ( 2–5 pm) Doddakalansandra Gubbalala gate, next to Lakshmi Vilas Bank, Navaratan Gardens, Konanakunte

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