Nutrition problems of children hindering nation’s growth, say experts

Islamabad:  (Parliament Times)    A media dialogue on the nutrition situation affecting children,
adolescents and women of Pakistan was organised by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
here today. The dialogue, held in collaboration with the Ministry of National Health Services,
Regulation and Coordination (MNHSRC), Government of Pakistan, highlighted the challenges and
opportunities related to nutrition in the country.
The interactive discussion featured distinguished guests such as Ms. Kanwal Shauzab, Member –
National Assembly of Pakistan and Parliamentary Secretary – Planning Development & Reform, Dr.
Nausheen Hamid, Member – National Assembly of Pakistan and Parliamentary Secretary –NHSRC,
Dr. Abdul Baseer Khan Achakzai, Director – Nutrition, MNHSRC, Mr. Muhammad Aslam Shaheen –
Chief of Nutrition, Planning and Development Division, Planning Commission, Ministry of Planning
Development and Reform, and the focal point for Scaling Up Nutrition in Pakistan, and Dr. Saba
Shuja, Nutrition Officer, UNICEF Pakistan.
The panel of experts expressed concern over the fact that more than 4 out of every 10 children
under five years of age (over 10 million children) are affected by stunting. Stunting is caused by
chronic malnutrition. It inhibits children’s cognitive and physical development, damaging their
growth in the long run. More than 15 per cent of children in the same age-group suffer from severe
acute malnutrition – an illness that can also be fatal.
The nutritional status of adolescent girls and women impacts the growth and development of their
future children. Attempts at reducing the number of underweight and anaemic adolescent girls
between the ages of 10 and 19 years has also been slow. The diets of adolescent girls and women
are often too poor to meet nutritional needs for their healthy growth and development as well as
that of the future children.
Immediate and exclusive breastfeeding is critical for the achievement of many of the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs). It improves nutrition, prevents child mortality and decreases the risk of
non-communicable diseases, and supports cognitive development and education. Breastfeeding is
also an enabler to ending poverty, promoting economic growth and reducing inequalities. All these
are global goals under the SDGs that Pakistan has also committed to achieving.
A healthy diet meeting the nutritional needs of children protects them against multiple chronic
diseases. Good maternal nutrition of lactating mothers also contributes to the healthy growth of
newborns. Data shows that less than 4 out of every 10 mothers in the country exclusively breastfeed
their newborns for six months – an inevitable requirement to shield children from many health and
nutrition related problems. The panel as well as the audience agreed that more is needed to be done
to save children from stunting, wasting and other nutrition-related challenges that they are faced
with.
The dialogue also reiterated the commitment of the Government of Pakistan and its partners,
especially UNICEF, to target critical nutrition indicators such as, among others, immediate and
exclusive breastfeeding, nutritional deficiencies, stunting, wasting, and anaemia. The panel also
pushed for increased legislation on child nutrition, especially regulating breast milk substitutes such
as formula milk rigorously.