Anaemia remains a pressing issue for young children, especially those relying on certain milk products as their main nutrition source.

Paediatrician Heang Ratana has sounded the alarm over the rise in cases.

“The predominant cause of anaemia in children is a lack of nutrients, especially iron. Children suffering from anaemia struggle in both physical and mental development,” he said.

Ratana pointed out that anaemia in children can stem from multiple factors, including malnutrition, congenital issues or immune system-related diseases.

Symptoms can range from external to internal bleeding caused by falls or bruises, medications and bacterial infections. Moreover, children battling cancer often face anaemia.

Yet, the most prevalent cause he identifies in young children is malnutrition, particularly from consuming pasteurised milk from paper boxes.

“When young children rely solely on milk without a balanced diet from other food groups, they become vulnerable to diseases like anaemia due to weakened immune systems,” he said.

“Milk, as I constantly remind parents, lacks many essential nutrients. It might be laden with sugars and starches, but young children need substantial amounts of protein, vitamins, and iron for proper growth,” he added.

Ratana, a seasoned expert from a Phnom Penh private hospital, advocates for a varied diet for children. This should encompass vegetables, fish, meat and fruits.

To him, powdered milk formula or pasteurised milk is merely a supplementary food, insufficient on its own to cater to a growing child’s nutritional demands.

Hak Sopheak’s recent experience echoes this sentiment. He rushed his 5-year-old daughter to the hospital due to anaemia. He shares that the girl had been consuming a Vietnamese milk product since birth.

“Although she’s stopped drinking that milk, she remains frail with a poor appetite. She barely eats vegetables, and her fruit intake is limited to bananas. We’re still investigating the precise reason for her anaemia. Presently, she’s had blood transfusions, but she still appears weak and pale,” he said.

Sopheak, as a concerned father, recognises the importance of a balanced diet.

Hou Kroeun, deputy country director at Helen Keller International Cambodia, reinforces this. According to their research, malnutrition is due to insufficient food intake or an unbalanced diet.

This leads to a deficiency in the necessary calories and protein vital for bodily growth.

Malnutrition can usher in a host of serious health concerns, ranging from stunted growth and vision issues to more severe conditions like diabetes and heart diseases.

“A significant number suffer from a lack of essential vitamins and minerals. Iron, zinc, vitamin A and iodine deficiencies are particularly prevalent,” he noted.

Kroeun underscored the crucial role parents and guardians play in a child’s nutrition.

“The first 1,000 days, stretching from birth to two years, are pivotal for a child’s growth, both physically and mentally. It’s a time that demands undivided attention to their nutritional needs,” he stressed.