Health authorities are expressing serious concerns about an apparent increase in childhood malnutrition levels. “I’ve never seen so many malnourished children,” said pediatrician Leonora D’Esposito, who works for the government’s Plan Social welfare program. Cases of acute malnutrition are up from 1.5% to 3.7% over the last five months, a worrying increase, according to Dr. D’Esposito. These figures were collected in eastern Santo Domingo municipality and relate to babies under the age of six months. Statistics for babies between the ages of six and eleven months also reveal significant levels of malnutrition. The state-run health centers in eastern Santo Domingo are tackling the problem in their mobile clinics, treating the affected children and providing health education to parents about infant nutrition with an emphasis on breast-feeding.