UNICEF representative considers malnutrition

KARACHI: High incidence of malnutrition among women and children in the country must be taken-up as a national security issue as it jeopardises the future of children and consequently the national economy, said UNICEF representative for Sindh Andro Shilakadze.

Speaking at a session for Dissemination of 2011 National Nutrition Survey Results and Start-up of Integrated Nutrition Plan (SINP) on Tuesday he said major indicators of under-nutrition, notably stunting and wasting in children must be taken as danger signs for the nation in general.

"It would not be wrong to say that iron deficiency is a national issue because this retards the brain of the children who are to be the future of the country," he said.

Similarly, he said issue of malnutrition among women, particularly those in child bearing age can not be ignored and they needed every support at every level with major focus on quality food, clean environment and to exercise their right of child spacing.

Provincial Programme Manager for World Food Programme and Nutrition Cell Dr. Salma Kauser, sharing details of the SINP, jointly undertaken by Sindh Health Department, UNICEF, DFID and AusAID said household food insecurity has deteriorated by almost 58 percent.

She said the scenario has aggravated due to late initiation of breastfeeding, indifference towards exclusive breastfeeding, minimum dietary diversity, poor quality and minimum amount of clean water, poor sanitation, early and frequent child bearing.

WHO representative, Mohammad Daud said improvement of malnutrition was not merely a health issue but a socio-economic and development issue.

He said achieving the goal to improve nutritional status of children and women was not very difficult and required a holistic approach.

Chief Principal Officer of World Food Programme for Pakistan, Dr. Jason referred to achievements made to address malnutrition among identified groups through efficient interventional strategies.

Sindh Health Minister, Dr. Saghir Ahmed expressed his gratitude to UN and donor agencies for their support in the aftermath of floods in 2010 and torrential rains in 2011.

He said the survey, first of its kind, has helped to create a meaningful realisation that malnutrition was the root cause for maternal mortality and morbidity, infant mortality, morbidity among under five.

"While we had the Mother, Neonate and Child Health (MNCH) programme, focussed on medical aspects we need to have proper planning to address all aspects that cause malnutrition," he said.

The Minister assured that equal attention would be paid towards improving sanitation, hygiene and easy public accessibility to potable water.

He said the Health Department was keen to expedite implementation of proposals forwarded under SINP to strengthen nutritional status of women and children, however, it is equally conceded that the province may experience another spell of torrential rains in the coming monsoons.

Special Secretary for Public Health, Sindh, Dr. Suresh Kumar offered vote of thanks.

The programme was also attended by Sindh Secretary for Health, Syed Hashim Raza Zaidi and representatives of designated programmes of UNICEF, WHO and WFP besides government officials and medical fraternity.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2012