Shortage of life-saving nutritional diet puts over 40,000 malnourished children at risk

Nutritional rehabilitation centres in various districts have gone without therapeutic milk formulas and fortified flour for months, and caregivers have been relying on improvised substitutes.

Twelve-month-old Prapti KC has been battling severe acute malnutrition at the Nutrition Rehabilitation Home (NRH) in Butwal. Prapti, the daughter of Prajita Thapa KC of Madane in Gulmi, was admitted to the nutrition rehab a week ago. Despite receiving round-the-clock care, her recovery has been slow—not because of negligence, but due to an acute shortage of life-saving therapeutic food.