Nepal's Child Nutrition Crisis Deepens as Fortified Flour Program Ends

Nepal’s fight against child malnutrition in Karnali Province has suffered a major setback. The government halted its free fortified flour programme this fiscal year due to budget cuts. Officials now warn that years of progress could be undone without a sustainable plan in place. The super flour distribution programme began in 2014 to tackle chronic malnutrition in Karnali. It supplied fortified flour to pregnant women, new mothers, and young children aged six to 24 months. Over time, the initiative helped reduce stunting rates in the province.

Despite these gains, the programme was stopped this year after its budget was cut by around Rs100 million. Lila Bikram Thapa, head of the Nutrition Section, confirmed that funding shortages mean the scheme cannot restart next fiscal year. The suspension has already raised concerns about reversing recent improvements. Karnali Province still has the country’s highest rate of stunting, with over 30 percent of children under five affected. Nationally, stunting fell from 57 percent in 2001 to 25 percent in 2022. Yet Dr Shyam Raj Upreti, former director general of the Department of Health Services, criticised the government for relying on short-term fixes. He pointed out that while a six-month free mid-day meal programme was approved, no long-term strategy exists. Health officials admit that overdependence on donors and poor planning now threaten years of healthcare progress. Many nutrition schemes operate in crisis mode, struggling with unstable funding and no clear future.

The halt in fortified flour distribution leaves vulnerable groups in Karnali without crucial support. Without renewed funding or a sustainable approach, the province risks losing hard-won gains in child nutrition. Officials have yet to outline a solution to restore or replace the programme.