More than half of Pakistani women and two-thirds of children are suffering from micronutrient deficiency, widespread vitamin A, vitamin D, zinc, folic acid and iron deficiency anaemia in Pakistan.
Speakers said this during the one-day capacity building training for civil society organisations on fortification awareness and resource mobilisation, arranged by TheNetwork for Consumer Protection here at a hotel on Thursday.
It was a unique event to build capacity of community-based organisations on proposal writing, so that they would get funding from international donors, it would further help them in making their organisation's role sustainable in ending malnutrition in Pakistan.
"These organisations have vibrant role to influence the stakeholders for improving the compliance with the standards of fortification through engagement with different stakeholders and enforcing the existing laws. These CSOs also have very deep roots in the community and can influence the communities for increased demand for fortified food," said Nadeem Iqbal, CEO TheNetwork.
Pakistan is losing 2-3 percent GDP annually because of high burden of malnutrition. The lack of iron, vitamins A and D and other minerals limits ability to fight disease, making it a major contributor to high maternal newborn and child death rates. The newborn death rate is 42 per 1000 while childhood death rate is 74 per 1000. Malnourishment also affects cognitive and physical development, ultimately leading to reduced learning abilities and lower productivity in adulthood. Pakistan's rates of malnutrition are stagnating compared to reductions seen in neighbouring countries.
Food fortification, the addition of vitamins and minerals to common foods is an effective, affordable and safe measure to lower the burden of micronutrient deficiency, reducing economic loss due to malnutrition and making Pakistan healthier. "We are supporting PM Imran Khan in fight against malnutrition and government vision 2025 to address malnutrition," he further added.
Dr Nausheen Hamid, Federal Parliamentary Secretary National Health Services, was the guest of honour on the event. She appreciated the civil society efforts to fight against malnutrition. She said PM Imran Khan highlighted nutrition issue in his very first speech. Nutrition emergency is declared in Balochistan because of nutrition crisis. Multination reduces the productivity.
She emphasised on the need for creating awareness among masses to increase demand for fortified food. This event is very important for nutrition. It will contribute in ending malnutrition at grassroots level. The government is ready to support civil society in order to address the issues of fortification and overall nutrition, she said.
She said there are number of the people who don't have resources to purchase expensive food items to maintain their health. Use of edible oil/ghee is inexpensive way to reduce micronutrient deficiency among women and children.
Professor Dr Prof Dr Mehr Taj Roghani, Member Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, said that Pakistan is facing various challenges to end malnutrition. There is a need to create awareness about fortification. Breastfeeding rate in Pakistan is very low. Breastfeeding to newborn should be ensured because it is very first food for a child and has all the nutrients. "Our PM Imran Khan is committed to ending malnutrition. Joint efforts of the government and civil society are the need of hour. Together we can make a difference in the lives of the masses especially the poor," she said.
Representatives of more than 30 civil society organisations were present in the event. Certificates were distributed among participates at the end of the event.
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