Govt committed to address nutrition issue: Kiani

ISLAMABAD: Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Aamer Mehmood Kiani on Thursday said that the government was committed to address the nutrition issue in line with the mission of health care for all.

Talking to Regional Director World Food Programme (WFP) for Asia and Pacific, David Kaatrud who called on him, the minister said that nutrition of mothers and specially children needs utmost attention as they are the future of our nation.

He said that government was also focusing on nutrition of adolescent girls as these are the future mothers and their health would ensure health of the children.

The minister appreciated the efforts and support of World Food Programme in targeting the issue of food security and malnutrition in Pakistan.

“We welcome different interventions being carried out through the support of WFP in the country for prevention of stunting, management of acute malnutrition and specially food fortification.

The Regional Director WFP shared with minister about different initiatives that WFP was carrying out in Pakistan to target malnutrition and food security.

He said that the support by WFP gained momentum and became strategic and programme oriented during last few years.

The minister assured Regional Director all out support in their efforts to improve nutrition status of Pakistani population.

He said that the preliminary findings of NNS 2018 also suggested that the nutrition situation in Pakistan needs concerted and joint efforts especially in far flung and under-privileged and less developed areas in the country.

He said that with the combined efforts of federal and provincial governments, development partners and other stakeholders, the government would achieve all targets as committed in SDGs.

Regional Director said that WFP Pakistan was also supporting Nutrition Wing of the Ministry in revitalization and effective functioning of National Fortification Alliance which was playing a key role in policy making, oversight and monitoring of food fortification in the country Regional Director shared some of the intervention in which WFP was supporting the Ministry of Health technically and financially.

These include stunting prevention project which has proved very successful as per evaluation of AKU.

In addition, WFP was providing support in getting exemption of taxes and duties on import of raw material for Specialized Nutritious Food (SNF) production, support in feasibility study for rice fortification in Pakistan and initiation of fortification of wheat flour produced by Chakkis with vitamin and minerals.

Regional Director said that WFP is also interested to support the government in commercialization of locally produced SNF, so that everyone who is malnourished can have access.