Kamogelo Olaitan
More than 2,800 children have died of malnutrition in South African hospitals in the last five years.
This was revealed by the Department of Health after a question by the DA’s Bridget Masango, according to Times Live.
Masango raised the question in the National Assembly this week.
The department said most of the deaths involved kids under the age of five.
Spokesperson Foster Mohale said there were 3,886 deaths associated with severe acute malnutrition nationally.
“Malnourished children are more likely to die due to infection, and infections worsen the severity of the malnutrition. Most deaths from acute malnutrition are linked to infections such as diarrhoea, pneumonia, tuberculosis and HIV/Aids,” he said.
The worst affected province was KwaZulu-Natal, followed by the Eastern Cape and Gauteng. North West reported the fewest deaths.
Speaking to TimesLive, Teddy Bear Clinic director Dr Shaheda Omar said the deaths recorded did not reflect the actual number of children dying in rural areas.
