Water, water everywhere; but no drop to drink!!

What can one say about the misfortune of Pakistani children!? Despite living in an agrarian economy, only 4 percent of the children aged 6-23 months receive the minimum acceptable diet, according to the Save the Children organisation. Save the Children is a leading independent organisation that aims to create lasting change in the lives of children in need. According to the organisation, health care, sanitation and access and availability of food are the primary influencers of the causes of malnutrition. According to the organisations latest report, Pakistan is amongst the five countries with the lowest percentage of children (aged 6 -23 months) receiving minimum acceptable diet, standing abreast Niger, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, and India. UNICEF, World Food Programme and other humanitarian agencies continue to fight malnutrition in Pakistan. Pakistan itself launched the National Maternal Newborn and Child Health Programme (NMNCH) in 2006. This community-based programme aims to improve the status of mothers, newborns and children, especially those in the poor and marginalised households. Apart from this many family planning, nutrition and primary health care programmes are in place. Despite these efforts, the policy makers have not had much success and the number of malnourished children aged 6-23 months still stands around 6 million. The question arises that what is needed to control and, in the long run, eradicate the nuisance? Interestingly, the general perceptions that poor economic growth has to do with the large number of malnourished children and that the situation would improve with economic stability do not hold ground. A World Bank report shows that economic growth accounts for only a fraction of the reduction in undernourishment. And the countries with the fastest annual reduction rate of malnourished children have strong public policies that aim to improve nutrition. In addition, these countries have invested in health services to ensure presence of well-trained health workers. The World Bank has also established 13 interventions that would help get rid of malnutrition. Proper prenatal and infant nutrition that includes breastfeeding for 6 months, and increasing the intake of zinc and vitamin-A through supplements and fortification are a few examples of these interventions. The total cost of these interventions in 36 countries that have 90 percent of malnourished children is $10-$12 billion annually. In the past, UN, other aid agencies and governments have been able to combat epidemics, such as tuberculosis and malaria through collective efforts. Undoubtedly, its high time these agencies should shift their focus on child malnutrition which is exhausting 2-3 percent of national income of the country annually in addition to the rising healthcare costs in the future. The government of Pakistan should also raise its allocations for health, which currently stands at around 0.23 percent of the GDP.